Kuwait’s diplomat underscores interest in human rights review

MP touts diplomatic feats during UNSC membership

GENEVA, Feb 2, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at the UN and International Organizations Jamal Al-Ghunaim said Saturday that his country attaches much heed to the periodic human rights review

as a “unique mechanism”.

“This mechanism encompasses a review of human rights records of all United Nations (UN) member states, and it is marked by neutrality,” he said to KUNA. He added that Kuwait is interested in interacting with this mechanism with a view to creating more human rights improvement indexes in the country by means of drawing upon advanced countries’ expertise in this regard.

It is the third time Kuwait reviews its human rights record at a meeting of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group, he said. The previous two times took place in 2010 and 2015.

The Kuwaiti diplomat noted that his country positively and effectively deals with all human rights mechanisms and pursues a clear-cut and frank stance on them, thus earning it much international confidence and respect.

Proceeding from its interest in human rights issues, Kuwait will strive to tap available expertise and recommendations, he added, boasting about international satisfaction with Kuwait’s efforts to promote and shore up human rights just as reflected by interactive dialogue within the council’s meeting.

However, the Kuwaiti diplomat restated that his country remains opposed to anything that could run counter to Islamic law and national constitution and law.

Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti member of Parliament on Thursday highly commended his country’s diplomatic accomplishments during its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding Arab and Islamic affairs.

“I’m honored to laud the significant diplomatic achievements made by Kuwait during UNSC nonpermanent membership for 2018-2019,” Ouda Al-Ruwaie said while addressing the general assembly meeting of Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States in Burkina Faso.

He listed Kuwaiti efforts as defending the issues and affairs of Arab and Muslim worlds, primarily the Palestinian case, carrying out humanitarian activities and achieving Middle East peace.

He added that his country had managed to rally up much support for a UNSC resolution on a ceasefire in Syria, which led to providing humanitarian access and evacuating those injured in clashes.

The Kuwaiti MP also spoke highly of Kuwait’s great efforts in an unprecedented UNSC resolution on those missing in armed conflicts, along with its role in highlighting the issue of Rohingya.