in 2018, compared to 93,000 a year earlier.67 However, civil society estimates are much higher, with some placing the figure at 130,000.68 The vast majority of this group belong to the Bidoon.69 The group falls into three broad categories: “(a) those whose ancestors failed to apply for nationality or lacked the necessary documentation when Kuwait gained independence in 1961; (b) those recruited from abroad to work in the Kuwaiti army or police force during the 1960s, who settled permanently in Kuwait, along with their families; and (c) children of Kuwaiti mothers and stateless or foreign fathers.”70 Until 1986, the Bidoon were provided with a “civil status” that gave them access to basic services without, however, providing them with equal rights compared to Kuwaiti citizens. However, in 1986, the Kuwaiti authorities stripped the Bidoon of the civil status card that entitled their holders to basic civil rights. This paved the way for growing human rights violations to be committed against the Bidoon, as they were stripped of their rights and social security, further marginalising them.71 Bidoons in Kuwait do not have legal status and are not able to work legally. The Kuwaiti government excludes Bidoon children from state education and has banned all donations that contribute to their education. Bidoon children enrolled in schools that charge tuition receive an inferior education to children with Kuwaiti nationality, and Bidoon children are often required to pay additional fees.72 Moreover, limited access to “Article 17 passports”,73 which permit the Bidoons to travel for religious, medical or educational purposes under specific conditions, leaves them reliant on traffickers and smugglers for travel and work abroad. Bidoon women suffer from multiple forms of discrimination and abuse, and find themselves in a particularly vulnerable position.74 It has been reported that Bidoon women and girls have 67 Annex Table 1. UNHCR Global Trends, Forced Displacement in 2018, available at: https://www.unhcr.org/5d08d7ee7.pdf (accessed July 12, 2019). 68 Human Rights Council, Written statement submitted by Conseil International pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux Droits de l'Homme, February 19, 2019, A/HRC/40/NGO/132, available at: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/044/06/PDF/G1904406.pdf?OpenElement, (accessed 16 July 2019). 69 Bidoon, short for bidoon jinsiya, can be translated to ‘without nationality’ from Arabic. For more, see: Minority Rights Group, Kuwait, Bidoon, Updated December 2017, https://minorityrights.org/minorities/bidoon/ (accessed July 12, 2019). 70 Human Rights Watch, Prisoners of the Past, June 13, 2011, www.hrw.org/report/2011/06/13/prisoners-past/kuwaiti-bidun-and-burden-statelessness (accessed July 12, 2019). 71 Ibidem. 72 Ibidem. 73 Temporary travel documents issued to Bidoons, valid for specific journeys pursuant to Art. 17 of Law No. 11/1962. Available at: https://gulfmigration.org/kuwait-law-no-11-of-1962-regarding-passports/, (accessed 16 July 2019). 74 Human Rights Watch, Prisoners of the Past, June 13, 2011, www.hrw.org/report/2011/06/13/prisoners-past/kuwaiti-bidun-and-burden-statelessness (accessed July 12, 2019). 16 UPR KUWAIT