The State of Kuwait has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to international efforts to uncover the fate of missing persons in armed conflicts, calling for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2474 (2019).
This resolution, which aims to strengthen mechanisms for locating missing persons, remains a vital humanitarian priority, said Faisal Al-Enezi, Kuwait’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Al-Enezi delivered Kuwait’s statement during a Security Council session convened to review progress on Resolution 2474. He emphasized that adherence to this resolution is essential to ensuring accountability, delivering justice, and alleviating the pain endured by the families of the missing.
Al-Enezi drew attention to Kuwait’s own tragic experience following the 1990 Iraqi invasion, which resulted in the disappearance of hundreds of Kuwaitis. “Nearly 35 years on, Kuwait still bears a deep wound,” he said, citing the continued search for the remains of 308 missing persons.
“This is not just a national tragedy,” he stressed, “but a universal call for action. Families remain displaced—fathers, sons, entire generations—awaiting closure.”
In his remarks, Al-Enezi condemned the ongoing disregard for international humanitarian law in modern conflicts, describing today’s wars as “inhumane and savage.” He called for stronger enforcement of international rules and norms, noting that providing information on the missing, ensuring proper treatment of remains, and maintaining transparency are “cornerstones to prevent impunity and hold perpetrators accountable.”
He added that humanitarian practices should not be viewed as obligations alone, but as tools to build trust and foster dialogue among warring parties.
Kuwait urged the UN to appoint a high-level official dedicated solely to overseeing the global process of identifying and resolving missing persons cases. Al-Enezi also called for regular, detailed reports by the UN Secretary-General on the issue, to ensure that it remains a top priority on the international agenda.
He concluded by urging all UN missions and special envoys to incorporate the issue of missing persons into their peacekeeping and mediation efforts, asserting that doing so could accelerate peace negotiations, support transitional justice, and lead to more sustainable conflict resolutions.
“In Kuwait, no person is abandoned, and no missing soul is forgotten,” Al-Enezi said. “We ask that the world stand with us, and with all nations, in honoring that principle.”
