Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim

GENEVA: Kuwait yesterday stressed to the UN Human Rights Council that terrorism was not linked to a certain religion, race, ethnicity, or region, affirming that it was the greatest threat to international peace and security. This came in a speech delivered by Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim in the 37th Session of the interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. Terrorism is not only a threat to individuals and communities, it is a major obstacle to the protection and promotion of human rights, he said.

Ghunaim added that the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals required a concentrated international effort to tackle the root causes of terrorism and extremism, in order to achieve stability in countries and societies. Ghunaim stressed Kuwait's keenness to combat terrorism in all its forms through its active participation with the international community to eradicate this scourge. He pointed out that the State of Kuwait has already implemented a law 85/2013, which abides by Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) program, adding that Kuwait recently hosted the international ministerial meeting for the coalition to fight the so-called Islamic State (IS).

At the same time, Ghunaim welcomed the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and the information presented therein He reiterated Kuwait's firm stand by rejecting all forms of terrorism and extremism regardless of their causes, motives and sources. The 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council is being held from February 26 to March 23 to discuss UN human rights experts' reports on human rights issues. - KUNA