New York, June 11, 2026 – Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) during the 19th Conference of States Parties to the Convention, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
In her remarks, Cuba’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Daylenis Moreno Guerra, emphasized that the Cuban State places a high priority on the comprehensive development, social inclusion, and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, in accordance with the principle of leaving no one behind and the commitments undertaken under the Convention.
The diplomat highlighted the country’s progress in strengthening its legal and institutional framework since the adoption of the 2019 Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, as well as the continued improvement of public policies, programs, and mechanisms aimed at guaranteeing the full participation, autonomy, and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Ambassador Moreno Guerra noted that these efforts are being carried out in an especially challenging economic context, marked by the intensified economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, as well as additional coercive measures and restrictions. She stressed that these actions have a significant impact on the daily lives of persons with disabilities and on the provision of essential services, including healthcare and specialized education.
In this regard, she illustrated the tangible effects of the blockade by noting that the economic losses caused in just 19 minutes are equivalent to the cost of the electric and conventional wheelchairs required by Cuba’s special education system. Likewise, she explained that the losses incurred in only 10 minutes would be sufficient to meet the demand for hearing aids for children and adolescents with disabilities enrolled in that system.
The Cuban representative reiterated her country’s determination to continue strengthening policies aimed at guaranteeing the human rights of persons with disabilities and advancing the implementation of the Convention. She also informed participants that Cuba is preparing its second national report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and to the promotion of an increasingly inclusive, equitable, and just society.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.