NEW YORK, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- Kuwait called on the international community to uphold its global commitments toward the rights of persons with disabilities, stressing the need to ensure that children with disabilities are included in all programs even when resources are limited.
The remarks came in a speech by Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN headquarters in New York, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai late Monday, at the annual UN World Conjoined Twins Day. The event, observed annually on November 24, was co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the UN, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), UNICEF.
Al-Banai said children with disabilities remain among the most vulnerable during armed conflict, noting that Kuwait's approach is grounded in international obligations that require protection, rehabilitation and comprehensive services even under the most difficult circumstances, including wartime.
He also stated that the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a framework that calls for inclusivity, explaining that countries can adopt policy and financing models that embed disability across entire systems rather than through isolated pilot projects. The most effective and cost-efficient strategy, he said, is to build systems that prioritize children with the most complex needs from the outset.
Al-Bannai highlighted UN Security Council Resolution 2475 (2019), which serves as a roadmap for parties to conflict to ensure sustainable, appropriate and accessible support for persons with disabilities affected by armed violence. He noted Kuwait has taken proactive steps to align its national plans with the needs of children with disabilities, including integrating this group into the Kuwait National Development Plan 2035 to advance education, employment and accessibility. Al-Bannai emphasized that disability inclusion can be advanced by aligning humanitarian financing -- including rapid-response funds -- toward early rehabilitation and comprehensive protection for children. In 2024, the UN General Assembly observed November 24 as World Day of Conjoined Twins to raise awareness and promote the rights and inclusion of conjoined twins in society.
The resolution reaffirms the international community's commitment to healthcare and support for children with complex medical conditions in line with global development goals and disability-inclusion priorities. (end) ast.sar