The State of Kuwait has called on the international community to tackle the root causes of the persistent issue of missing persons in armed conflicts, emphasizing that comprehensive dialogue remains essential to bridging divides and achieving sustainable peace.
In remarks delivered by Kuwait’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Minister Plenipotentiary Faisal Al-Enezi, the Kuwait reaffirmed its firm humanitarian stance during a high-level side event held at its delegation’s headquarters in New York, news agencies report
The event, titled “Strengthening tools to protect missing persons and promote dignified treatment and return of human remains in the context of armed conflicts,” was held on the sidelines of the United Nations’ Week on the Protection of Civilians, and organized in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the Global Alliance for Missing Persons.
Al-Enezi described the phenomenon of people going missing during war as recurring and historical, yet preventable with the right international tools and coordination. He referenced alarming data from the ICRC, which reported that 2024 witnessed the highest annual rise in missing persons in at least 20 years, stressing that the situation demands immediate international attention and coordinated action.
The diplomat proudly noted that Kuwait had led the way in the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2474 (2019)—the first resolution of its kind that focuses exclusively on missing persons in armed conflicts.
“This resolution,” Al-Enezi explained, “underscores the need for a comprehensive approach that begins with prevention, includes search and identification efforts, and ends with the dignified return of remains to families.”
Al-Enezi also highlighted the importance of justice, non-impunity, and accountability in the path toward reconciliation and peacebuilding. He urged conflicting parties to document and share the identities of detainees and to ensure communication between detainees and their families.
He stressed that the diverse causes of armed conflict make the protection of missing persons a shared international responsibility, requiring full commitment from all states and stakeholders.
