Arab Parliament chief hails Amir’s role for promoting human rights

Chairman of the Arab Parliament Dr Meshaal Al-Salmi yesterday lauded efforts of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the level of promoting human rights at the local and Arab levels.

Salmi was addressing the 12th session of the Arab Human Rights Committee, tasked with discussing the First National Report, presented by the State of Kuwait, in implementation of the Arab Human Rights Charter. He affirmed Kuwait’s keenness on presenting its first report about the human rights’ status in the Arab countries, noting the political leadership’s great confidence in the Arab mechanisms in the realm of human rights and resolve to meet aspirations of the Kuwaiti people in this regard.

The State of Kuwait has substantiated its commitments to human rights by approving relevant treaties and accords and by presenting the regular reports according to schedules at Arab and international conventions and quarters.

The Kuwaiti constitution stipulates human rights’ principles, justice, freedoms, protection of the family, motherhood and childhood, said Al-Salmi, adding that the latest successful parliamentary elections, held in November, signaled a clear evidence of the well-established democracy in the Kuwaiti society. He drew attention to recurring cases of human rights abuses in the Arab world, particularly in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

Earlier, Arab League’s Human Rights Committee Chairman Dr Hadi Al-Yami hailed the State of Kuwait’s distinctive experience in the humanitarian domain, namely with respect of human rights. Yami lauded the rich Kuwaiti experience at this level in a statement, inaugurating the 12th session of an affiliate panel, Kuwait has succeeded in bolstering its humanitarian role through democracy, institutional performance by the government, the parliament and the judiciary, he said, also lauding role of the Kuwaiti press and media as well as the dynamic Kuwaiti people at such levels.

There is political will behind the Kuwaiti achievements, though “there is no ceiling for human rights,” Yami added. He welcomed the participating Kuwaiti delegation, headed by the Permanent Delegate to the United Nations, Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghuneim, also expressing satisfaction at outcome of a visit, paid by the commission members to Kuwait, last May. The panel members, during the visit, examined the Kuwaiti efforts in bolstering and protecting human rights, he said, expressing gratitude to Kuwaiti societies for taking part in the session and presenting reports, in addition to the one put forward by the Government of Kuwait. The Arab committee’s responsibilities are turning greater due to turbulent conditions in “our Arab homeland,” he said, indicating that the dramatic events “undoubtedly affect human rights.” —KUNA