Paris, 9 July 2025. The Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO denounced before the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee the effects of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States against Cuba, which constitutes a major obstacle to the management, conservation, and restoration of the country’s cultural and natural heritage.
During her intervention in the debate on global challenges to heritage protection, Laura Álvarez Delgado, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO, emphasized that despite progress achieved in national policy frameworks, the blockade severely hampers the implementation of projects, the acquisition of specialized materials and technologies, and access to financing and international cooperation. The Cuban representative stated:
“Cuba has implemented management policies for its historic centers and national parks that harmoniously combine heritage protection with sustainable development; however, these efforts are seriously affected by the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States, which restricts access to essential resources and technologies for the protection and restoration of our heritage,”
Álvarez Delgado underlined that the restrictions not only hinder conservation efforts within the country but also limit academic exchanges and technical cooperation with international institutions, exacerbating the challenges faced by many developing nations in confronting climate change, armed conflicts, and insufficient local capacities.
The Cuban delegation also warned about the grave consequences of unilateral sanctions, blockades, and military aggressions that violate international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, reiterating its condemnation of the genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, both of which endanger their cultural and natural heritage.
Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and reiterated its willingness to continue working with UNESCO and all States Parties to promote solidarity-based and sustainable solutions for the safeguarding of humanity’s shared heritage.