Geneva, December 4, 2025 — Cuba participated in the Special Conference held to commemorate, for the first time, the International Day against Unilateral Coercive Measures.
The event, organized by the Group of Friends of the UN Charter, was attended by numerous delegations and representatives of civil society.
Speaking at the Conference, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Alena Douhan, cited the recovery of Cuba after Hurricane Melissa as an example of the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures (UCM).
She explained that, despite the intense efforts and negotiations carried out by United Nations agencies and national authorities, Cuba received only 30% of the humanitarian aid that reached other countries in the region affected by the storm.
On behalf of Cuba, Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson emphasized that the UCMs are illegal under all circumstances and, therefore, unacceptable. They constitute a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law; they are incompatible with the legitimate right of peoples to peace and development and violate the most fundamental human rights.
He also stressed that nothing justifies the imposition of such measures, and therefore they must be eliminated immediately and unconditionally.
In this context, the diplomat denounced the criminal economic blockade imposed by the United States, which causes economic losses to the country exceeding $7.5 billion and whose consequences are suffered by all Cuban families.
He expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support of the States for the resolution demanding the end of the blockade against Cuba, adopted on October 29 by the UN General Assembly, despite US pressure.
Benítez Verson also expressed Cuba's firm rejection of the threats of military aggression by the United States against Venezuela, to overthrow its legitimate government by force.
I have described the current military escalation as a serious threat to international law, with incalculable and unpredictable consequences for peace and security in our region.
He emphasized that remaining silence in the face of the prelude to an illegitimate and illegal military attack would set an extremely dangerous precedent, and he called on all nations to denounce this irrational and dangerous onslaught against Venezuela.