Kuwait Urges World To Safeguard Human Rights

(MENAFN - Arab News) Kuwait called on Friday on the international community take responsibility in safeguarding human rights, urging all countries to follow the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993. Human rights must be fulfilled for all people regardless of their race or ethnicity, said Kuwaiti Diplomat Fahad Talal Al-Thamer in the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Kuwait is a signatory state of several international human rights agreements, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child signed in 1991, said Al-Thamer.

Kuwait was on top of the list in the Arab Human Development Report of 2009, issued by the UN Development Programme, while it came in the 33rd place internationally, said Al-Thamer. The Diplomat also noted that Kuwait supports the UN's efforts to fight poverty, create equality between the sexes, and limit the cases of child deaths. The Kuwaiti constitution respects the freedom of individuals, human dignity, and ensures that people are equal in rights and duties, despite their religion, sex, language, or ethnicity, he said. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, also known as VDPA, is a human rights declaration adopted by consensus at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993 in Vienna, Austria.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was created by this Declaration endorsed by General Assembly Resolution 48/121. Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for National Assembly Ali Al-Omair affirmed the respect to the rule of law and a court decision by all those who belong to the oil sector, particularly with regard to the return of high ranking officials to their post, a current hot issue in courts. The minister stressed that the court ruling on the issue is going to end soon. He made his remarks on the sidelines of KAFCO's Golden Jubilee ceremony, adding that some court rulings which were issued have been implemented and others await final issuing of the courts, clarifying that all respect and appreciate the courts.

Court The minister noted that they are keen not to have the court issue affect the oil sector in any way and regardless of the outcome of such rulings. In terms of production, the minister noted that the ministry is working to increase oil production to four million per day by the year 2020, yet its normal that the oil sector becomes hectic with not only oil extraction, but also production, and execution of refinery projects. On another front, Al-Omair said oil prices reflects global competition and new discoveries, however there is stability in the global markets and therefore stability in oil prices.

In yet another development, the Ministry of Electricity and Water paid about KD1.740 million as bond for cases filed by individuals and companies against it from April 1 to Sept 30 last year, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources. Sources disclosed the estimated budget for fiscal 2013/2014 reached KD3 million, which means the amount paid in these cases was more than half of the budget. Sources pointed out this is a huge loss for the State at a time it is trying to find alternative sources of national income amidst allegations of public funds misappropriation in the public sector. In another development, Al-Watan Arabic daily has reported that the emergency centers affiliated to the ministry has disconnected water supply from 202 buildings in Hawally due to certain violations. This is in addition to the issuance of 392 warnings to owners of other buildings for violating regulations on the installation of water meters - an act that led to the disruption of water supply to adjacent buildings. Sources added the inspection teams will intensify their efforts in the coming days to limit, if not eliminate, the violations.

View original post here:
Kuwait Urges World To Safeguard Human Rights