Press Release: Economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against Cuba is the major violation of the human rights of the Cuban people.

New York, 27 October 2017.During the general debate under Item 72: Promotion and protection of human rights, b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives, relating to the Third Committee of the United Nations, Cuban Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, defended the principles of mutual respect, truth, justice, universality, impartiality and non-selectivity as the only way to promote and protect all human rights, including health, education and food.

The Cuban representative replied to the intervention of the United States, which she described as having an arrogant and confrontational approach that does not contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights. Cuba, she said, has an exemplary human rights record that belies any manipulation against it.

She recalled that the northern nation lacks morality in terms of human rights, as it shows a pattern of systematic violations of human rights, such as the use of torture, arbitrary detention and deprivation of liberty, as is the case of Guantanamo Naval Base, the murder of African-Americans by the police, the death of innocent civilians by its troops and the xenophobia and repression of immigrants, including children, and their limited adherence to international human rights instruments.

Rodríguez Abascal strongly emphasized that the island has been subject to aggressions of all sorts, including the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against Cuba for more than 50 years, which constitutes a unilateral coercive measure and the major violation of the human rights of all Cubans, as an act contrary to the spirit and the letter of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

The diplomat pointed out that the Caribbean nations has always opposed selective approaches and initiatives against developing countries, particularly those driven by political motivations and hegemonic interests of some powers, undermining cooperation in the field of human rights. At the same time, she stressed that the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the Human Rights Council is the appropriate instrument to address the human rights situation in all countries without distinction or politicization.

She reiterated that the effective realization of all human rights, respect for cultural diversity, for different religions and beliefs, for the diversity of political, economic and social systems, and for the right to self-determination of peoples, should be the cornerstone of all actions of the organization and its Member States.

Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations