Mr. President,
We thank the delegations of New Zealand, Colombia and Estonia for the presentation of draft resolution L.20 Rev.1, which addresses a priority issue for Cuba and to which we give special attention as part of the efforts to guarantee the human right to health and the rights of women and girls.
Globally, the persistence of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity is one of the most painful expressions of poverty, inequality and social injustice.
Despite an oral review, the draft resolution does not clearly reflect the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the prevention of maternal mortality and morbidity by limiting access to essential drugs, equipment, technology and vital resources.
We urge the sponsors to reflect this important dimension of the problem in future draft resolutions.
No woman should die from preventable causes during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period.
Cuba has developed a universal, free, primary health care system, which has allowed us to sustain very favourable maternal indicators, despite adverse economic conditions and the negative impact of the criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government.
The elimination of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity requires more political will and better international cooperation.
Our country will continue to defend the right to health as an essential pillar of human dignity.
For the above reasons, Cuba supports draft resolution L.20 Rev. 1 and hopes that it can be adopted by consensus.
Thank you very much.