KUWAIT CITY, Dec 10: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Kuwait’s dedication to human rights on the UN Human Rights Day, through efforts based on national legislation and relevant international agreements and conventions. As a member of the Human Rights Council for the year 2024-2026, the ministry stressed its commitment to fulfilling all pledges made during its membership, including advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and ensuring individuals’ well-being and dignity. The State of Kuwait marked on Tuesday the Human Rights Day, which is held under the theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.” According to the UN, the celebration commemorates one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The declaration, per the UN, was proclaimed by the General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948, and set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

In this regard, the State of Kuwait affirmed its commitment to human rights, which was a fundamental block in its constitution founded in 1962 and was in line with international human rights laws and regulations. Kuwait had ratified numerous global human rights accords that ensured political, civil, social, economic, cultural, judicial, racial, and gender rights for all human beings. In particular, Kuwait had focused efforts on achieving the 2015-adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSGs) including several goals geared towards overall human rights. Kuwait’s role in the human rights domain earned it on October 10, 2023 a membership seat at the Human Rights Council in 2024-26 after garnering 183 votes. Meanwhile, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister for Human Rights Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah affirmed Tuesday the commitment of Gulf Cooperation Council states to promoting human rights through national legislation, the principles of the Islamic religion, and the Gulf’s traditions and values.

Ambassador Al-Sabah statement to KUNA came following an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of GCC’s Human Rights Declaration in the Qatari capital, Doha. The Kuwaiti senior diplomat hailed the pioneering role of GCC states in supporting women empowerment, youth, and persons with disabilities, as well as reinforcing the basic rights of individuals in healthcare, education, and development. She said that these efforts all came as a continuation of the declaration ratified in Doha back in 2014, taking note of Qatar’s efforts in hosting the event. On the sidelines of the event, Sheikha Jawaher met with the Qatari State Minister for International Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, Maryam Al- Misnad. (KUNA)