Kuwait stresses importance of enhancing integration between international justice mechanisms and national judiciaries

Kuwait has affirmed the importance of strengthening the integration between international justice mechanisms and national judicial systems, noting that the fight against impunity is a shared responsibility requiring effective international cooperation, with full respect for the sovereignty and judicial jurisdiction of states. This was stated in Kuwait’s address delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Mansour Abu Haimed to the United Nations General Assembly during the discussion of Agenda Item 130 concerning the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

Abu Haimed highlighted Kuwait’s full support for the independence of the International Mechanism, commending its efforts to cooperate with Member States and regional organizations to enhance its efficiency, facilitate its judicial and administrative work, and support the capacities of national judicial bodies. He stressed that justice is fundamental to achieving sustainable peace, and that combating impunity serves as a guarantee against the recurrence of atrocities and serious violations, while reinforcing the rule of law and safeguarding international peace and security.

He appreciated the Mechanism’s efforts in fulfilling its mandate, emphasizing the importance of completing remaining tasks efficiently and effectively, including overseeing the enforcement of sentences, protecting witnesses and victims, preserving judicial archives, making them accessible in accordance with established regulations, and enhancing cooperation with relevant national authorities.

He recalled the victims of serious crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, noting that the establishment of the two tribunals pursuant to Security Council resolutions 827 (1993) and 955 (1994) marked a significant milestone in consolidating the principle of individual criminal responsibility. He clarified that the International Mechanism was established under Security Council resolution 1966 (2010) to continue the remaining tasks of the two tribunals and preserve their judicial legacy.

Abu Haimed pointed out that the principles underpinning international criminal justice must not be subject to selectivity or double standards, and that the gravity of violations committed against civilians necessitates holding those responsible accountable in accordance with international law, without discrimination or exception. In this context, he stressed the necessity for the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in confronting war crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people, including acts of settler violence, repression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. He affirmed the importance of ending the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Abu Haimed reiterated Kuwait’s strong condemnation of the unjust Iranian aggression that began on February 28, 2026, which involved targeting vital civilian assets, facilities, and infrastructure, in a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and posing a direct threat to the security of its citizens and residents. He called on Iran to adhere to the rules and principles of international law, including the UN Charter, principles of good neighborliness, and the prohibition of the use or threat of force. He emphasized the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 2817 and other international resolutions issued by the Human Rights Council and the International Maritime Organization, which condemned the Iranian aggression and demanded its cessation.

He highlighted the importance of protecting human rights, witnesses, and victims, noting that Kuwait’s election to the Human Rights Council for the term 2027–2030 represents an additional responsibility to continue its efforts to promote and protect human rights at both the national and international levels.

In conclusion, Abu Haimed reaffirmed Kuwait’s support for the work of the International Mechanism within its mandated scope, its judicial independence, and its cooperation with relevant states, ensuring the completion of its tasks and the preservation of the judicial legacy of the two tribunals.