It is necessary to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba as a unitary influence favoring peace and the peaceful solution of conflicts and differences. (UN High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, 1 September 2016)
Cuba is making some progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals with the moral strength of having met the Millennium Development Goals and the satisfaction of having provided cooperation to other developing countries in a number of sectors. Cuba will continue to do so to the extent of our modest possibilities.
We have attained such result despite the persistence of the economic, commercial and financial Embargo imposed against Cuba for over half a century, which causes damages and hardship to the Cuban people. It is the main obstacle for the economic development of our country and affects other nations due to its extraterritorial scope; at the same time, it continues to harm the interests of US citizens and companies. (Debate on Social Development, 4 October 2016)
It is the view of my delegation that eliminating violence against women and girls requires the lifting of all unilateral coercive measures.
In this sense, the economic, commercial and financial Embargo that continues to be imposed against Cuba is an obstacle for the country´s full development and the advancement of women. It is a form of direct and indirect violence affecting and hampering Cuban women´s enjoyment of fundamental rights, including their right to development. ( Debate on the "Advancement of Women" 10 October 2016)
Today’s infant mortality rate is 4.3 per one thousand live births, instead of 60 as it used to be before 1959. All Cuban children are vaccinated at birth against 13 communicable diseases and the early detection of congenital conditions is a priority. Likewise, Cuba was the first country to receive validation from the World Health Organization for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and syphilis.
According to the World Bank, Cuba holds the best education system in the world and is the country that invests most in education with nearly 13% of its GDP. (...) All these achievements have been attained by the Cuban people despite the severe impact of the genocidal economic, financial and commercial Embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba for more than half a century. (Debate "Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, 13 October 2016)