Kuwait, as an active country in the field of human rights, was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term with 173 votes. Ghada Al-Taher, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, described this election as a sign of the international community's trust in Kuwait and a new opportunity for the country to participate in the global multilateral system.
Kuwait's Achievements in Human Rights
Ghada Al-Taher characterized this election as an important achievement with special significance, especially on the eve of the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations and the 63rd anniversary of Kuwait's membership in this international body. She stated that over more than six decades, Kuwait has transformed from a new member to an active partner in multilateral institutions.
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Kuwait has previously served on the Human Rights Council during the terms 2011-2014 and 2024-2026, and has now extended its membership until 2029. Additionally, Kuwait has recently been elected to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the years 2026-2028 and will preside over this board in 2026-2027, reflecting the country's growing role in international affairs.
Challenges and Opportunities in Human Rights
Ghada Al-Taher emphasized that human rights is an ongoing process in every country, and no government can claim that work in this area is complete. She referred to Kuwait's experience, stating that the country has made significant progress by adopting legal and institutional measures to protect the rights of women and families and to strengthen children's rights, including raising the marriage age to 18.
She also discussed Kuwait's efforts to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and their integration into society and the labor market. Al-Taher noted that Kuwait collaborates with international human rights organizations, and the real value of these mechanisms lies in transforming recommendations into effective policies and actions in people's lives.
Al-Taher further addressed the issue of Palestine, stating that the ongoing violation of the rights of the Palestinian people is a key test of the international community's commitment to international law. She asserted that human rights, especially in terms of protecting civilians and respecting international rights and access to humanitarian aid, must be without obstacles. As a member of the Human Rights Council, Kuwait will be able to continue defending these rights.
Al-Taher expressed hope that Kuwait could use its tradition of preventive diplomacy and mediation to promote dialogue and consensus in the Human Rights Council. Additionally, Kuwait's presidency of the IAEA comes at a critical time for nuclear security and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The UN in Kuwait has close cooperation with national institutions in the field of human rights and works through collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Human Rights Bureau, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and other entities to strengthen this area. Ghada Al-Taher described Kuwait's 63-year partnership with the UN as a broad network of cooperation in sustainable development, human rights, peace and security, youth and women's empowerment, and climate actions.
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