New York, November 25, 2025. — The delegation of the Republic of Cuba participated in the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly on the Appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Cuba reiterated its full support to the instrument and its willingness to strengthening international cooperation in combating this scourge.
The Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, emphasized that Cuba maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards trafficking in persons, based on prevention, confrontation and the protection of victims. He recalled that Cuba strictly complies with its obligations under the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol.
Ambassador Soberón pointed out that despite the low incidence of this crime in the national territory, Cuba continues to implement its National Plan of Action for the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons and the Protection of Victims. This is an effective tool for coordinating the work of the State and civil society organizations. He also emphasized that the Cuban legal framework, including the Criminal Code, criminalizes all forms of trafficking covered by the Palermo Protocol and establishes robust mechanisms to combat related crimes, protect children and prohibit forced and child labor.
During his speech, he emphasized the importance of international cooperation in effectively addressing human trafficking and warned that punitive approaches, political manipulation, and selectivity hinder the collaboration necessary to combat this transnational crime.
In this context, he denounced the inclusion of Cuba in the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report as unjustified and discriminatory, noting that it is based on strictly political motivations. He also condemned the smear campaign against Cuban medical cooperation promoted by U.S. authorities, which seeks to discredit a humanitarian effort that has saved millions of lives over the past six decades.
The Cuban diplomat reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to contributing to the health and well-being of people in need, in strict adherence to the principles of solidarity and international cooperation.
Finally, he reaffirmed Cuba's unwavering commitment of the Greater Antilles to continue preventing and combating trafficking in persons, protecting victims, and strengthening international cooperation.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations