Human Rights Watch has criticized Kuwait for its treatment of 106,000 stateless people who have been denied citizenship for decades.

A report issued Monday by the organization says the stateless people, known as bidoons, have been denied basic human rights in areas of work and education.

Kuwait's human rights record has drawn increased international scrutiny in the last year from Human Rights Watch, as proposed reforms for stateless persons, women's rights and domestic workers remain stalled.

The watchdog group reports that freedom of expression deteriorated as the government of Kuwait continued criminal prosecutions for libel and slander, and charged at least one individual with state security crimes for expressing nonviolent political opinions.

The group says discrimination against women continues in nationality, residency and family laws, and in their economic rights, although women gained the right to vote and run for office in 2005.