New York; April 24, 2026 – Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, addressed the 25th session period in the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where he reiterated Cuba’s support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and its full implementation.
The Cuba diplomat highlighted that this instrument is essential to guarantee the full exercise of economic, social and cultural rights, and reaffirmed the indigenous people’s inalienable right to free determination.
He also stressed the need to protect ancestral knowledge and traditional languages, as well as the vital role of indigenous peoples in preserving biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources.
He warned about the persistence of practices of land and resource dispossession, even in countries that present themselves as defenders of human rights, and reiterated Cuba’s commitment to defending the rights of these communities.
Ambassador Soberón Guzmán highlighted Cuban cooperation for the benefit of indigenous communities, particularly in areas such as health and education, and reaffirmed the willingness to continue supporting their legitimate claims and the preservation of their cultures and identities.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.