In a powerful address to the Security Council, Kuwait's Deputy Permanent Representative Minister Plenipotentiary Faisal Al-Enezi underscored the vital importance of full compliance with UNSC Resolution 2474 (2019) regarding persons missing from armed conflicts.

Key Address Highlights

1. Resolution's Critical Framework

• Described as "a crucial link in the Council's civilian protection architecture"

• Establishes institutional mechanisms for:
  ✓ Accounting for missing persons
  ✓ Alleviating families' suffering
  ✓ Ensuring proper treatment of remains

2. Current Crisis Context

• Warned of "alarming regional/international conflicts flouting international law"

• Noted "countless civilians affected, with missing persons among most vulnerable groups"

3. Legal-Humanitarian Imperative

• Compliance is "not just an obligation but a bridge to negotiated solutions"

• Emphasized:
  • Information-sharing on missing persons
  • Dignified handling of remains
  • Family reunification as "cornerstones for accountability"

4. Kuwait's Painful Experience

• Shared Kuwait's 35-year search for 308 remaining missing persons from Iraq's 1990 invasion

• Stressed: "No person left behind, no missing forgotten"

• Called for sustained UN-supported search efforts

5. Concrete Action Proposals
✓ Appointment of high-level UN official exclusively dedicated to missing persons cases
✓ Continued periodic reporting by UN Secretary-General
✓ Integration of Resolution 2474 mandates into:
• All peacekeeping mission reports
• Conflict resolution processes
• Transitional justice mechanisms

Full Statement Excerpts:
"When all parties adhere to international humanitarian law, even conflict's aftermath can become fertile ground for peacebuilding."

"Kuwait's own tragic experience makes our commitment to this cause both principled and personal."

Next Steps Advocated:

• Immediate operationalization of Resolution 2474 mechanisms

• Enhanced coordination between ICRC, UN agencies, and member states

• Regular Security Council reviews of implementation