A female African expatriate recounted in a video shared on social media being stalked by a man driving a car as she made her way home from her workplace in Kuwait City. The woman said she first noticed the vehicle following her after she departed from work and that the driver contacted her via phone despite her attempts to move away. According to her description, the man drove past her several times only to resume following, eventually inquiring “how much she wanted,” which she perceived as a solicitation. She contemplated facing the driver and mentioning police but instead crossed the street, which she believed disrupted his pursuit.
The account, which remains unverified by independent sources, also touched on the disrespectful treatment some people direct at African women in Kuwait due to their race or nationality. The woman expressed her emotional response to the encounter in the recording that circulated widely. Discussions have emerged from the video regarding the safety of female expatriates, especially those in domestic or service positions, as they travel unaccompanied in public areas.
A United States State Department report on human rights practices noted local NGOs documenting cases of domestic violence against women in Kuwait along with broader gender-based violence including workplace incidents. The assessment pointed to extensive gender-based violence as a significant issue in the country. Research published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence in 2022 indicated that 71 percent of surveyed women in Kuwait City reported physical abuse, 81 percent sexual abuse and 89 percent psychological abuse from intimate partners.
According to a submission by Musawah, an estimated 1,100 domestic violence cases are reported annually in Kuwait with women making up 80 percent of the victims. The document highlighted a 40 percent increase in violence against women incidents between 2020 and 2022, reaching over 3,778 complaints by August 2023. In 50 percent of these cases women withdrew their complaints due to societal and family pressure, the submission added. These statistics reflect the difficulties in obtaining accurate data on all forms of violence against women, a concern also noted in reports to the UN Human Rights mechanisms citing lack of clear official statistics.
The Public Authority for Civil Information has in the past estimated Kuwait’s expatriate population at roughly 3.3 million. This group, which includes many women working in various sectors, often depends on walking or public transport for daily commutes. The recent incident has added to ongoing conversations about encouraging reports to authorities. Officials have previously stressed the importance of all residents feeling secure in public spaces regardless of nationality or ethnicity.
