Guidance

Information for victims of rape and sexual assault in Kuwait

Updated 9 January 2023

First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

• contact the Kuwait emergency number 112
• visit a hospital for medical assistance and report the incident to the doctor or the investigation office if there is one available
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact British Embassy Kuwait on 22594320 and select the “Consular Services” option. There is a 24/7 service and you will be able to speak to someone. Embassy staff will be polite, patient, sensitive and non-judgmental. They are able to provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you, if you wish

If you want to report the incident to the police in Kuwait

Before you go to the police station

If you have a sponsor (usually your employer), they may be able to arrange for someone to support and accompany you.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform the nearest British Embassy on 22594320 select ‘consular services’ option.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts.

At the police station

Tell the police if you think you have been drugged.

Insist you get a police report, with a case number. This document is likely to be in Arabic and you will be expected to get your own translation. The British Embassy will be able to provide you with a list of English speaking lawyers and translators.

Kuwait is a conservative Muslim state and as such, sex outside marriage is illegal. Homosexuality is also a crime in Kuwait. All parties, if found guilty of these offences could face a fine, prison sentence and/or deportation.

There is no guarantee that there will be specially trained officers to deal with victims of rape or sexual assault when reporting the offence and not every police station will have female officers. Equally, the level of English spoken and understood could be minimal. If possible, take someone with you who speaks Arabic.

When a case is registered and an investigation is ongoing, all parties may find themselves subject to travel bans (preventing exit from Kuwait) and this could also include any witnesses to the case.

If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Kuwait

The British embassy will be able to help you. This includes:

• making arrangements to contact your insurance company, your family
• making arrangements to help you travel back to the UK and/or provide you with information on local support in the UK
• providing you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators

See Rape and sexual assault abroad: returning to the UK.

If you are travelling with a tour operator, you can report the incident to them and ask them for assistance. Where possible and if you wish, the tour operator may accompany you to the local hospital.

It is your choice on whether to report the crime, but if you don’t report it, your case may not be investigated if there is a lack of forensic evidence.

If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

It is possible to report the crime to police in the UK. However, it is for foreign police forces to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction. UK police forces cannot investigate crimes committed overseas. Foreign police forces can decide to request assistance from the UK police, but this cannot be guaranteed and is a very lengthy process. It can therefore be very difficult to guarantee that any justice can be accessed without reporting the crime locally.

See rape and sexual assault: returning to the UK after rape or sexual assault abroad for more information.

When you return home to the UK

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre know what has happened to you so that you can talk about the experience and seek further support and advice.

Region	Organisation
England	NHS Choices website, or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’
Scotland	Archway SARC, phone 0141 211 8175
Wales	New Pathways SARC, Phone: 01685 379 310
	Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Northern Ireland	Rowan SARC Northern Ireland,Phone: 0800 389 4424

If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually-transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you, even if you have been tested in the country that the assault took place in.

Support organisations in Kuwait

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, you can either contact a private psychiatrist or seek psychiatric assistance through the government health centre/clinic or main government hospital in your area of residence. Your local health centre or hospital will provide further guidance or refer you to the Kuwait Centre for Mental Health.

See lists of English-speaking medical facilities.

Disclaimer

This information is provided by the British Government for the convenience of enquirers, but neither His Majesty’s Government nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or legal advice.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and The Rowan SARC NI and was accurate at the time of production.