Mr. President,
The promotion and protection of all human rights, including the right to life and development, face significant obstacles. Conflicts and threats to peace persist, unilateral coercive measures proliferate and efforts to halt the destruction of the planet are insufficient.
Neo-fascist and xenophobic platforms are gaining strength. Hate speeches are multiplying and normalizing. In several developed countries, fundamental rights, including women's equality, sexual and reproductive rights, the rights of Afro-descendants, ethnic minorities and migrants, are regressing.
The countries of the South continue to disproportionately bear the combined burden of the unjust international financial architecture, climate adaptation, ever-increasing external debt, and the inherent challenges of sustainable development, which will remain a utopia without profound changes to the current world order.
The Human Rights Council cannot remain impassive in the face of these realities. The peoples of the world demand actions, not words; they call for solutions, not promises.
Mr. President,
Strict adherence to the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, which govern the functioning of this body, must prevail under all circumstances. It is not admissible to invoke alleged practices to impose de facto amendments to these rules, which the Council has no prerogative to modify. This applies to the right of reply as well as to any other procedural matters.
Special procedures mandate holders have the obligation to comply, without exception, with the Code of Conduct.
Cuba shall continue to defend in this Council genuine international cooperation based on the indivisibility of human rights, non-selectivity and non-politicization.
We will always advocate respectful and constructive dialogue, as opposed to punitive approaches.
We will denounce, time and again, the criminal economic blockade imposed on us by the government of the United States, as it constitutes a flagrant violation of the human rights of all Cuban men and women and must come to an end.
During the current session of the Council, Cuba will present three draft resolutions under agenda item 3, addressing the right to food, cultural rights, and the negative impact of external debt on human rights.
We thank you in advance for your valuable support and co-sponsorship of these Cuban proposals.
Thank you.