Geneva, 19 June 2025. A strong message was delivered today at the Human Rights Council by a group of 64 countries, which highlighted the fundamental role of international medical cooperation in the realisation of the human right to health and its contribution to saving the lives of millions of people around the world.
At the same time, the nations expressed their firm rejection of any attempt to deprive peoples of the benefits of international medical cooperation and solidarity, for political or any other reasons.
“We emphasise that States should refrain from imposing any unilateral coercive measures, blockades or embargoes contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which restrict the supply to another State of medicines and adequate medical equipment, as a means of exerting political or economic pressure,” reads the declaration, read by Cuba on behalf of the group of countries.
The 64 nations also called for the strengthening and expansion of international medical assistance, solidarity and cooperation programmes to increase the provision of high quality health services, care for those most in need and contribute to the training of young health professionals.
This statement, supported by a large number of countries from different regions, is issued in the context of the dishonest campaign promoted by the US government against Cuba's international medical cooperation.
This campaign, as many countries have denounced, constitutes a direct attack on multilateralism and is a continuation of the policy of hostility against the island, even if it means affecting millions of people in the world who benefit from the selfless and humanitarian work of Cuban health collaborators.
