Paris, 28 May 2025. Cuban Ambassador María de Carmen Herrera Caseiro, Permanent Representative of Cuba to UNESCO, took part in an informal exchange session between members of UNESCO’s Executive Board and Mr. Guy Ryder, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Policy, regarding the “UN 80” initiative led by Secretary-General António Guterres.
Held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the meeting followed up on the decision adopted by the Executive Board at its 221st session to encourage the Organization’s active involvement in the UN 80 initiative. The initiative highlights the value of UNESCO’s normative frameworks, global networks, and cross-sectoral expertise as essential assets in contributing to the reform of the multilateral system.
During the meeting, Mr. Ryder—who heads the international task force established to advance the initiative—outlined the strategic directions of the process, focusing on three pillars: mandate review, institutional efficiency, and financial streamlining. The initiative seeks to adapt the United Nations system to contemporary challenges and to restore trust in multilateralism, in a context marked by geopolitical tensions and financial difficulties.
In her remarks, the Cuban Ambassador reiterated Cuba’s support for efforts aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the multilateral system. She also inquired about the transparency of the process, the composition of the task force, the criteria for its selection, and the expected timeline of work. She emphasized that any reform process must preserve the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations and be guided by the full involvement of the governing bodies of each entity within the system.
The Cuban delegation supported the need for close engagement of Member States in the reform process, as well as for equitable representation and participation of all countries, including those with lower levels of development. She also echoed concerns expressed regarding the mechanisms through which UNESCO can contribute from its unique mandate as a specialized agency, and how its input will be reflected in the final decisions.
Through its participation in this important exchange, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to strengthening multilateralism and its willingness to contribute constructively to reform processes aimed at achieving a more effective, inclusive, and development-oriented United Nations system.