New York, December 9th, 2025. — Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, delivered a speech today at the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity for the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
In his statement, Ambassador Soberón paid tribute to all victims of genocide on behalf of Cuba and stressed that remembering and honoring those who have suffered this crime is the international community's moral duty. He reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to preventing genocide and its support for the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General's work in this area, as well as for the 1948 Convention, to which Cuba has been a State Party for 72 years.
The Permanent Representative warned that genocide is not a phenomenon of the past and denounced the seriousness of the current global context. He strongly condemned the genocide Israel is perpetrating against the Palestinian people, emphasizing the daily horrors caused by bombings, forced displacement, the blockade of humanitarian aid, and collective punishment policies. He pointed out that the United States' veto in the Security Council and its military and financial support for Israel have protected impunity for these actions.
In his speech, Ambassador Soberón stated that economic suffocation and the deliberate deprivation of vital resources are expressions of genocide. He denounced the economic, commercial, and financial blockade that the United States has imposed on Cuba for over six decades as a policy of collective punishment, describing it as an act of genocide with severe impacts on the Cuban people’s human rights and development.
Finally, he emphasized that preventing genocide requires political will, unity of action, and eliminating structures of domination, colonialism, occupation, racism, and apartheid. He reiterated that Cuba, convinced that remaining silent in the face of genocide is a betrayal of humanity, will continue to advocate for Palestine, denounce the genocidal nature of the U.S. blockade, and defend human dignity without any concession.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.