Mr. President,
We thank Kenya and the African Group for presenting draft resolution L.29.
Cuba supports the draft resolution and the extension of the mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.
As the draft resolution rightly states, the work of this Council mechanism is particularly relevant in a context of increasing structural racism, institutionalized racial discrimination and hate speech.
We welcome the efforts of the Working Group to raise awareness of United Nations General Assembly resolution 80/250, which formally recognizes the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and the racialized enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
We consider that this designation has an important catalytic effect in promoting reparative frameworks to redress the historical wrongs committed against Africans.
We also appreciate the contributions of the Working Group to the implementation of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, an initiative that Cuba has supported since its inception.
We join the call made in the draft resolution to all States to fully cooperate with the Working Group in the discharge of its mandate.
Cuba reiterates its support for draft resolution L.29 and calls for its adoption by consensus.
Thank you very much.