New York, 17 June, 2026. – Today at the UN Security Council, Cuba reaffirmed that lasting peace cannot exist without justice, respect for sovereignty, and the guarantee of the right to development, during the Open Debate titled "Peace Is Decided with Women: Overcoming Conflicts by Strengthening Their Participation," under the agenda item "Women, Peace and Security."
In his speech, the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, denounced the grave situation faced by millions of women worldwide as a result of wars and foreign occupations, the policies of domination and humanitarian crises. In particular, he drew attention to the suffering of Palestinian women, victims of decades of Israeli occupation, forced displacement, systematic violence, and the devastating consequences of military aggression and genocide against the Palestinian people.
The Cuban diplomat stressed that women and girls continue to pay the highest price of armed conflicts, facing killings, displacement, sexual violence and exclusion from peace processes. He also stressed that unilateral coercive measures, blockages and other forms of economic pressure worsen the living conditions of women and their families by impeding access to essential resources and limiting development possibilities.
In referring to Cuba’s reality, Ambassador Soberón emphasized the decisive role of women in defending the homeland, social justice, solidarity and sustainable development. The Cuban diplomat denounced that the increased blockade imposed by the United States, along with the energy siege and the application of secondary sanctions, continues to generate severe impacts on the Cuban population, particularly on women, by restricting access to medicines, medical technologies, hospital equipment and other inputs essential for maternal and child health protection.
In this context, he noted that more than 32,880 pregnant women in Cuba face additional risks and constraints as a result of the restrictions stemming from the energy blockade, while numerous surgeries, including on girls and boys, remain pending. Soberón reiterated that this policy constitutes a form of collective punishment that imposes a disproportionate burden on women, especially in scenarios marked by energy hardships and scarcity of basic resources.
The Permanent Representative of Cuba reaffirmed that his country is a nation of peace and poses no threat to the United States. He ratified the willingness of Cuba to maintain a respectful dialogue based on sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs. At the same time, he rejected repeated threats of military aggression against the island and reiterated the determination of the Cuban people, including its women, to defend their sovereignty, independence and their right to freely decide their own destiny.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations