US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1033

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/IWI KHADIAGALA AND NEA/ARPI BERNS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, SOCI, ECON, ELAB, SCUL, KWMN, KU 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT: CHILD MARRIAGE 
 
REF: STATE 36341 
 
1. Article 26 of the Kuwaiti personal status law stipulates 
that the minimum age for GOK authentication of a marriage 
between two Kuwaiti citizens is 15 years for a woman and 17 
years for a man. The woman, regardless of age, requires the 
consent of a male guardian -- father, eldest brother, uncle, 
etc. -- to wed for the first time. For non-citizens, who 
represent approximately 65% of residents in Kuwait, the 
woman's minimum age depends on the marriage law of her 
country of citizenship. Likewise, the man's national law will 
determine his minimum age. 
 
2. A mid-level Ministry of Justice official estimated the 
incidence of underage marriage ranges from 2-3% of total 
marriages in Kuwait. He said the practice occurs primarily in 
rural desert areas among the Bedouin community. Many are 
ignorant of marriage law, which may result in unintentional 
underage unions. In other instances, the official commented, 
rural residents claim ignorance but proceed with marriage 
regardless. The GOK attempts to educate the rural community 
via the Ministry of Religious Endowment and Islam Affairs and 
through imams in local mosques. 
 
3. There are no U.S.-funded initiatives addressing underage 
marriage underway in Kuwait. Potential public awareness 
programs that target the rural population could be helpful in 
reducing the incidence of child marriage although the problem 
does not appear significant in Kuwait. 
LEBARON