A/50/476 English Page 8 Although these abuses are illegal under Kuwaiti law, very few cases are prosecuted. The Government of Kuwait has all but ignored the plight of these women". 15. The Special Rapporteur received from the Government of Kuwait the following comments, of which he has taken note and which he is submitting to the attention of the General Assembly at the request of that Government: "[The Government of Kuwait] deplores the publication (in document A/49/677, annex) of information derived from a non-governmental source alleging that housekeepers working in Kuwait are ill-treated" and that "the Government of Kuwait has all but ignored the plight of these women". It is, to say the last, surprising that this erroneous information has been published without even trying to verify it with the Kuwaiti authorities concerned. This calls for a number of comments: 1. Kuwait is a democratic society in which foreigners of different nationalities, who outnumber Kuwaiti nationals, live and work. Kuwait endeavours to ensure the best possible treatment for people residing in its territory, faithful in that respect to its traditional commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms for which it is renowned in all international bodies. 2. With regard to domestic workers in general, it should be noted that labour from other countries has been employed in Kuwait for a very long time; and, up to now, there have been no complaints. 3. Among the facts demonstrating that domestic workers are treated well by Kuwaiti families is the increase in the numbers of such employees, which reached 168,747 in May 1993, representing a significant proportion of the population of the State of Kuwait, which currently has 2.5 million inhabitants. This is proof that Kuwaitis treat their household employees well. It this were not so, why would any housekeeper agree to stay in Kuwait? These comments are corroborated by the fact that the majority of domestic workers who have already worked in Kuwait in the past return of their own free will either to resume service with their former employers or to work with other people. These facts belie all the allegations about the treatment of domestic workers; the purpose of such allegations is clearly to harm Kuwait. It should be noted that the domestic workers concerned had the option of not returning to Kuwait after the expiry of their contracts. The main reason that they did return was that the Kuwaitis had treated them well. 4. According to the official statistics on the question, in 1993 the number of cases of ill-treatment did not exceed 500, which represents less than 0.5 per cent of the workforce currently in domestic service in Kuwait. These are reliable statistics whose accuracy can be proved by the Kuwaiti public authorities and the diplomatic missions of the countries of which these employees are nationals. /...