COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Weekly Announcement of the Council of Ministers, March 21
Kuwait imposed a nationwide 11- hour curfew from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. The national guard was ordered to assist the police in enforcing the lockdown.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 22 Mar 2020 Extended and expanded on 6 April 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement, Militarization
Type: order
Ministerial Decision No. 64 of 2020 on Gatherings
The decision bans any type of gathering, whether held in public or private areas. The order penalizes anyone who violates the decision with imprisonment of up to 3 months, in accordance with Decree No. 8 of 1969.
قرار وزاري رقم 64 لسنة 2020 بشأن التجمعات
ÙŠØظر القرار أي نوع من التجمعات سواءً أقيمت ÙÙŠ أماكن عامة أو خاصة. Ùˆ يعاقب أي شخص يخال٠القرار بالسجن لمدة تصل إلى 3 أشهر بموجب القانون رقم 8 لسنة 1969.
Introduced 18 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: order
Surveillance Bracelets
The government of Kuwait will require all returning nationals to wear electronic bracelets to ensure their compliance with measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including restrictions on movement.
أساور المراقبة
ستلزم الØكومة الكويتية جميع المواطنين العائدين بوضع الأساور الإلكترونية لضمان امتثالهم لتدابير مكاÙØØ© انتشار Ùيروس كورونا المستجد، ويشمل ذلك Ùرض قيود على التنقل.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 19 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: practice
Shlonik Contact Tracing App Raises Privacy Concerns
Kuwait's Health Ministry launched an official contact-tracing application, Shlonik, which captures individuals' real-time location through GPS and uploads the location data to a centralized government database. The database links individuals' locations with their national ID numbers, which users must submit to use the app. The app can pair with a Bluetooth bracelet, to help ensure that the user remains close to their phone, in order to enforce quarantine measures. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 18 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: practice