Kuwait calls for balanced approach to codification of international law
Kuwait has emphasized the importance of respecting state sovereignty and taking national practices into account when drafting and progressively developing international law, stressing that legal reforms must be based on accurate assessments of international practices and relevant legal evidence to strengthen legal certainty and the rule of law.
The position was outlined by Second Secretary of Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Jassim Al-Amiri, during a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee discussing Item 78 on the report of the International Law Commission’s 76th and 77th sessions.
Al-Amiri commended the Commission’s efforts to codify and progressively develop international law, highlighting the importance of constructive engagement with the Sixth Committee and giving due consideration to the views and national practices of member states.
He stressed the need to distinguish between the codification of existing international legal rules and proposals for their progressive development, cautioning against prejudging states’ positions on the legal nature or implications of the Commission’s conclusions and proposals.
Addressing rising sea levels, Al-Amiri acknowledged the serious environmental, economic, social and legal challenges facing coastal and island states, calling for continued international cooperation to address climate change and mitigate its effects.
He also highlighted the importance of following up on the Sea Level Rise Declaration adopted during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, while taking into account the concerns of affected states.
Al-Amiri further stressed that discussions on rising sea levels must be grounded in relevant international legal principles, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. On the subject of general principles of law, he called for due consideration of the diversity of national legal systems and international practices, as well as clear criteria for identifying such principles and determining their scope of application without undermining other sources of international law.
He concluded by reaffirming Kuwait’s appreciation for the Commission’s work and the importance of continued dialogue with member states to strengthen the codification and progressive development of international law.
