New York, 10 October 2016. Cuba stressed today that the constant imperialist aggressions and the permanent interferences in the internal affairs of third world countries; the plundering of their wealth and the promotion of regional conflicts for economic and political benefits; the systematic destruction of these peoples’ infrastructures and indiscriminate slaughtering of innocent civilians are the main causes nowadays for the violation of International Humanitarian Law.
In Agenda item: “Status of Protocols Additional to the Geneva Convention of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts”, the delegate of Cuba to the Sixth Committee Tanieris Diéguez Lao, reiterated the unwavering commitment of Cuba with International Humanitarian Law, especially with the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. Hence, she emphasized that nothing justifies the violation of such norms of international law and highlighted Cuba’s opposition to the attempts of certain countries to reinterpret such norms in order to evade their strict fulfillment.
“Cuba unfalteringly supports broad and transparent debate of this item within the UNGA Sixth Committee. Today more than ever, it is imperative to consolidate the legal framework applicable to armed conflicts, throughout its universal adoption. The United Nations are called to reinforce the utmost respect for the norms related to the protection of civilians in armed conflicts”, she underscored while considering that political manipulation and double standards in issues like protection of civilians and the responsibility to protect, weaken International Humanitarian Law.
As part of her statement, the Cuban delegate recommended that the international community demands responsibility on every State violating International Humanitarian Law, as well as those who promote internal conflicts within other sovereign States, in order to impose external agendas.
At the end, she highlighted that the national Cuban legislation has incorporated all the necessary guarantees to comply with the strict fulfillment of these norms, particularly those related to the protection of civilians. She reiterated Cuba’s will to work for the global implementation of the norms of International Humanitarian Law and to continue to collaborate with the International Committee of the Red Cross and its different associations, in the humble effort to spread awareness and respect for International Humanitarian Law. (Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)