CAIRO: Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm commitment to international conventions and agreements related to human rights, particularly the Arab Charter on Human Rights. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday, Sheikha Jawaher underscored Kuwait’s belief in the importance of regional cooperation in promoting and safeguarding human rights. Her remarks came on the sidelines of the meeting of States Parties to the Arab Charter on Human Rights, held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The meeting focused on a Libyan proposal to amend paragraph three of Article 45 of the Charter’s statute, concerning the mechanism for electing members of the Arab Charter Committee.
Sheikha Jawaher expressed hope that member states would reach consensus on the proposed amendment, noting that the committee currently comprises 18 members, and there is a shared aspiration to expand representation to include all 22 Arab League member states. She emphasized that any changes should be guided by a unified vision that reflects the collective will of the state’s parties. Highlighting the committee’s pivotal role, Sheikha Jawaher said it plays a vital function in monitoring state’s compliance with their human rights obligations and in enhancing respect for human rights throughout the Arab world.
Commenting on Kuwait’s engagement with the Arab Charter mechanisms, she said the country remains committed to Arab solidarity and collective advancement. Kuwait has submitted its second national report to the Arab Charter Committee, which is scheduled for review in the last quarter of this year. The country has received the committee’s list of issues and is currently working on its responses in preparation for the official session.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Sheikha Jawaher met with Dr Mohammad Al-Shehhi, the newly elected Chair of the Arab Charter Committee, to congratulate him on his election to the post. The meeting also served to coordinate an upcoming official visit to Kuwait, during which the committee will meet with government and civil society stakeholders ahead of the national report’s discussion. Sheikha Jawaher also led Kuwait’s delegation to the 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights, which convened at the Arab League headquarters with participation from all member states. — KUNA
