Kuwait has emphasized the importance of protecting human rights and respecting state sovereignty as fundamental responsibilities of the international community, reiterating its commitment to international law and multilateralism during a recent United Nations General Assembly debate. The remarks were delivered by Wafiqah K. Al-Mulla, Third Secretary at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the UN, in response to the report of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Al-Mulla highlighted that safeguarding human dignity and accountability for abuses must be free from selectivity, politicization, and double standards. She stressed that the promotion and protection of human rights form the foundation for security, stability, and peace and are obligations that apply to all states without exception. Kuwait also expressed appreciation to UN member states for electing it to the Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term, a confidence it said reflects international responsibility to uphold human rights in cooperation with other nations.

Addressing recent regional security concerns, Al-Mulla condemned the attacks on Kuwaiti territory carried out by Iran since February 28, 2026. She characterized these attacks—which targeted residential areas, civilian infrastructure, and critical facilities such as hospitals, energy sites, ports, airports, oil installations, and water networks—as clear violations of Kuwait’s sovereignty, a breach of the UN Charter, and infringements on fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life and security. The attacks were further noted for their occurrence during the holy month of Ramadan, impacting civilians engaged in daily and religious activities. Kuwait rejected Iran’s justification of these actions under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which pertains to self-defense, arguing that such claims do not permit violations of other states’ sovereignty or targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Al-Mulla called for strict adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemned the Iranian attacks on Kuwait and other regional countries, urging respect for sovereignty and international law. She also referenced Human Rights Council Resolution 61/1, adopted earlier the same year, which demanded that Iran cease all attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Jordan, warning against provocations and calling for reparations for damages caused.

In addition, Kuwait strongly denounced recent assaults by the Houthi militia from Yemen against Saudi Arabia, which targeted vital civilian facilities including airports and resulted in civilian casualties. Al-Mulla affirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that Saudi security is integral to the security of Kuwait and the broader Gulf and Arab region. She called on the international community to condemn such attacks, protect civilians, hold perpetrators accountable, and prioritize diplomatic solutions to defuse tensions and maintain regional stability.

Throughout her statement, Al-Mulla stressed that the credibility of international institutions depends not only on the adoption of resolutions but also on their effective implementation, including accountability measures to prevent impunity. She underscored Kuwait's foreign policy principles of diplomacy, dialogue, and respect for sovereignty, while reaffirming the country’s inherent right to self-defense under international law. Kuwait declared its sovereignty a red line that is non-negotiable and reiterated its determination to contribute to a more just and equitable international order in which human dignity and international law are upheld equally for all states.