Manwah Alothman
Manwah Alothman joined the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) in 2025 as a Senior Legal Adviser, seconded by the Government of Kuwait. She began her prosecutorial career in 2014 when she was appointed as one of the first female prosecutors in Kuwait, following her graduation with distinction from the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies’ Foundational Training Program for the Preparation of Public Prosecutors, where she ranked seventh in her cohort. Her prosecutorial expertise has focused on violent crimes, bank fraud, and commercial affairs offenses.
During her tenure with the Public Prosecution, Ms. Alothman represented Kuwait at numerous international and locally hosted conferences on topics including anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism, and cybercrime investigations and prosecutions. Many of these engagements were organized in cooperation with the United States Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT). Alongside her prosecutorial work, she dedicated significant efforts to advancing legal education, mentoring women in the legal profession, and pursuing higher academic achievements. In 2021, she earned a master’s degree in international public law from Kuwait International Law School, authoring a thesis entitled “The Silent Genocide of the Rohingya People – Upholding Accountability.”
With the support of the Ministry of Justice and the Public Prosecution, Ms. Alothman has also been an active advocate for enhancing women’s participation in the judiciary. She has delivered speeches at national and international forums and notably represented the Public Prosecution at the implementation event of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security.” The event was organized by the National Committee for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 in cooperation with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, the Delegation of the European Union, the NATO Mission, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with other relevant authorities.
In recognition of her professional accomplishments, Ms. Alothman was appointed Deputy Director of the Commercial Affairs Prosecution Office in 2021, becoming one of the first women to hold a supervisory and administrative post within the Public Prosecution. In 2024, she was further appointed Director of the Farwaniya Prosecution Office, joining the first group of women to assume senior leadership positions in the prosecution service. In this capacity, she oversees prosecutorial performance, manages case distribution, supervises investigations within the office’s jurisdiction, and ensures compliance with directives issued by the Attorney General. She also coordinates with law enforcement and judicial bodies in the Farwaniya Governorate, monitors crime scenes alongside prosecutors to safeguard proper legal procedures, and supervises and authorizes search warrants to ensure their lawful execution.
Beyond her leadership roles, Ms. Alothman has contributed extensively to the training and development of junior prosecutors and legal researchers. Between 2021 and 2024, she delivered lectures, workshops, and foundational training programs in partnership with the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies, reinforcing her commitment to building prosecutorial capacity and fostering the next generation of legal professionals.