Mr. President,
As we open this new session of the working group, we congratulate you on your election and wish you every success in performing your duties and in leading the negotiation efforts.
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to advancing towards the adoption of a binding international instrument for the regulation of the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises under International Human Rights Law.
There is an urgent need to establish effective mechanisms to ensure that transnational corporations that are responsible for or complicit in human rights violations and international crimes are investigated and prosecuted for damage to individuals, the environment, and the natural resources of countries.
Mr. President,
The deliberations of this group require the involvement and political will of all States. We acknowledge the dedicated and committed efforts of civil society on this issue, whose demands and concerns should be taken into account.
My delegation reserves its position on the draft, the proposals of other delegations and the President's compromise suggestions until the scope of the document is agreed upon. We are not prepared to renegotiate the mandate given to the group. We are here to fulfil it.
The scope of the instrument must be in strict accordance with the provisions of Human Rights Council resolution 26/9, which is essential to maintain the raison d'être and the very essence of the process.
Thank you.