Kuwait: Protecting human rights requires respecting state sovereignty and holding violators accountable

The State of Kuwait affirmed today, Friday, that the protection of human rights and the preservation of human dignity constitute a shared international responsibility that requires respect for state sovereignty and international law, the protection of civilians, and accountability for those responsible for violations, free from selectivity, politicization, and double standards. This was stated in a speech delivered by the representative of the State of Kuwait, Second Secretary Wafiq Al-Mulla, before the United Nations General Assembly during the discussion of the item concerning the report of the Human Rights Council.

Al-Mulla said that promoting and protecting human rights is not merely a principle enshrined in international covenants and conventions, but an obligation incumbent upon all states without exception, forming the foundation for achieving security, stability, and peace. She praised the pivotal role played by the Human Rights Council, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its credibility and ensuring it fulfills its mandate free from selectivity, politicization, and double standards.

She expressed the State of Kuwait’s appreciation to the member states of the United Nations for the trust placed in the country by electing it as a member of the Human Rights Council for the term (2027–2029), considering this trust as an international responsibility to continue working on promoting and protecting human rights in cooperation with Council members and all member states.

The State of Kuwait reaffirmed its firm belief in multilateralism and that the UN Charter must remain the primary reference for all states without exception, noting that the strength of the international system lies in commitment to international law, respect for state sovereignty, and the rights of peoples. She pointed out that the United Nations was not created to be a witness to violations, but rather as a collective framework to prevent and address them, and that diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful means of dispute resolution represent a consistent approach in Kuwaiti foreign policy.

Al-Mulla stated that talk of human rights loses its credibility when innocent civilians are attacked, civilian facilities are targeted, and claims of self-defense are used as a pretext to violate state sovereignty and threaten the security of peoples. In this context, she renewed the State of Kuwait’s strongest condemnation of Iranian attacks that targeted its territory since February 28, 2026, considering them a blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a serious breach of the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

She clarified that the attacks affected residential areas, civilian facilities, and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, energy facilities, ports, the airport, oil facilities, and water installations, thereby endangering the lives and safety of civilians and threatening their fundamental rights, foremost among which is the right to life, security, and safety. She added that the gravity of these attacks is compounded by their occurrence during the holy month of Ramadan, when citizens and residents were going about their daily lives and practicing their religious rites in peace and security.

The State of Kuwait firmly rejected Iran’s attempts to justify these attacks by invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, stressing that the right to self-defense does not grant any state an open mandate to violate the sovereignty of other states or target civilians and civilian facilities.

Al-Mulla stressed the importance of full compliance with Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemned Iranian attacks on the State of Kuwait and the region, called for respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged adherence to the provisions of the UN Charter. She also referred to Human Rights Council Resolution 61/1, adopted by consensus in Geneva on March 25, 2026, concerning the impact of Iranian attacks on human rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

It noted that the resolution called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression, threats, and provocations, and to provide full, effective, and prompt reparation for the damage and losses resulting from its internationally unlawful acts. It affirmed that the resolutions represent a clear international stance regarding the seriousness of these attacks, and that preserving the credibility of international institutions is not limited to adopting resolutions but requires their implementation and ensuring accountability for violations and an end to impunity.

In a related context, Al-Mulla expressed the State of Kuwait’s strong condemnation and rejection of the attacks launched by the Houthi militia from Yemeni territory against the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which targeted civilian and vital facilities, including airports, resulting in casualties and injuries among innocent civilians. She expressed Kuwait’s full and steadfast solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, emphasizing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of Kuwait’s security and the shared Gulf and Arab security system.

She called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in condemning these attacks, countering them, ensuring the protection of civilians, and holding those responsible accountable, while stressing the necessity of halting escalation and prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions to preserve the region’s security and stability.

Al-Mulla questioned how one can speak of protecting the right to life while civilians are exposed to the danger of military attacks, and how one can demand respect for human rights when the sovereignty of states is violated and the safety of their peoples is threatened. She stressed that human rights are indivisible, that the protection of civilians is not a selective issue, and that respecting state sovereignty is an obligation that must not be subjected to political calculations or double standards.

She pointed out that the State of Kuwait has pursued throughout its history an external policy based on dialogue, diplomacy, good neighborliness, respect for state sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs. However, her commitment to these principles does not imply leniency toward attacks on Kuwait’s sovereignty or threats to the security of its people. She stated that “Kuwait’s sovereignty is a red line and not subject to compromise,” affirming her country’s inherent right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and international law, and to take all necessary measures to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Concluding her country’s statement, Al-Mulla emphasized that Kuwait’s election to the membership of the Human Rights Council renews its resolve to continue working within the United Nations to defend the principles upon which it was founded and to contribute to building a more just and equitable international system in which human dignity is upheld and states fulfill their responsibilities without selectivity or double standards. She said, “There is no peace without justice, no protection of human rights without respect for international law, and no credibility for the international system unless its principles are applied to all without exception.”