Statement by Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Cuba, during the High-Level Segment of the Fifty Eigth Session of the Human Rights Council

Mr. President;

The right to life is in serious danger. The United Nations Charter, International Law, and multilateralism are been threatened. There attempts intending to impose economic coercion and political subversion as methods to establish international relations.  This is not only immoral but also illegal.

This Council should call more strongly for a just and democratic international order that ensures peace and “the balance of the world”, sovereign equality and the exercise of the right to development by all States, thus ensuring the exercise of all human rights.

Mr. President;

This Council is an important instrument for the promotion and defense of human rights, without manipulations, politicization, selectivity and double standards.  It is urgent that all States are truly committed to the human rights mechanisms of a thematic, universal and non-discriminatory nature.

We observe with concern how developed countries are experiencing a regression of decades in terms of fundamental rights, including women’s equality; sexual and reproductive rights; the rights of African-descendants, ethnic minorities and migrants. 

The western countries’ attempts to turn this Human Rights Council into a tribunal against countries that do not yield to their interests are unacceptable and jeopardize the credibility and existence of this body. The nefarious history of the imploded Human Rights Committee must not be repeated. 

The United States, an accomplice to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, questions the permanence in the Council’s agenda of a priority and historical item, which is the flagrant violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people, to which we reiterate our full solidarity.

Mr. President;

The government of the United States implements a policy of maximum pressure against Cuba, thus causing a deterioration in the national consumption, incomes and the living standards of Cuban families.

The economic blockade is the cause of inflation, low availability of fuels, foodstuffs, medicines and seriously impairs the electricity service. It prevents the full enjoyment of the rights to food, culture and education, which the State provides either free of charge or heavily subsidized.

We thank the 123 States which, back in July last, made their statements in this Council against Cuba’s inclusion in the State Department’s spurious List of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism.

Mr. President;

Some reports have recently been disseminated in relation to the practice of the government of the United Stats to allocate funds, worth millions, from the federal budget to finance organizations, media and communication platforms using as a façade the protection of human rights and the promotion of democracy, when in fact they respond to the political interests pursued by that government.

It is a serious issue, relevant to this Council and its mandate, since it shows the double standards and opportunism with which the human rights issue has been used to subvert sovereign governments.

Mr. President;

In November of 2023, Cuba made its presentation, for the fourth time, to the Universal Periodic Review and accepted more than 80 per cent of the recommendations made.  We continue to advance in their consideration and implementation.

In October last, we made a successful presentation before the Committee on the Elimination of the Discrimination against Women.

During the last year, Cuba sent its national reports on racial discrimination and forced disappearances to the respective Committees. We have received, on academic visits, four special procedures and one expert on treaty bodies. 

It is a relationship that we hope to continue building together.

Mr. President;

Cuba will remain firm in its creative resilience.  We will defend our sovereignty and the socialist rule-of-law and social justice State. We will continue to defend the principles of universality, indivisibility, objectivity and non-selectivity in addressing human rights.

The voice of Cuba will continue to be heard in defense of the full dignity of humankind.

Thank you, very much.