On Monday, the IV session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent began at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with the participation of representatives of the Cuban civil society and a government delegation.
During the general debate of the Forum, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, reiterated our country's firm commitment to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all related forms of intolerance.
He also affirmed that "Cubans are Afro-Latin Americans," underscoring the Caribbean nation's deep mestizo heritage and the inclusive nature of its culture, traditions and national identity.
Soberón Guzmán reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as to comply with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. He emphasized that Cuban legislation strictly prohibits any advocacy of hatred, racist ideas or manifestations of intolerance.
He also said that despite external pressures, Cuba has strengthened its institutional framework to address racism, highlighting the creation of the National Program against Racism and Racial Discrimination in 2019, as well as the National Commission and the Social Observatory "Color Cubano", promoted with the support of an active civil society committed to equality and social justice.
He referred to the holding of the "International Conference Cuba 2024: Decade of People of African Descent, Equality - Equity - Social Justice", which counted with the participation of renowned experts such as June Soomer and Barbara Reynolds. He reaffirmed Cuba's support for the Second United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent.
He concluded by calling for collective action to eradicate these scourges once and for all, quoting the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who told the Durban Conference that "Racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia are social, cultural and political phenomena, not a natural human instinct.”
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations