Geneva, April 5, 2024. At the 55th regular session of the Human Rights Council, Cuba proposed resolutions on "The right to food", "The renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights" and "The effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights".
The first two resolutions were adopted by consensus, with a large number of co-sponsors, while the third was adopted by 31 votes in favor, 12 against and 4 abstentions. Only a few Western countries opposed the proposal. For the first time, the EU voted split on the substantive content of this resolution, which calls for addressing the problem of foreign debt and debt sustainability, urgent debt relief measures, recognition of the impact of debt on human rights, and reform of the unjust and undemocratic international financial architecture.
In the case of the resolution on the right to food, in addition to the traditional content of the text, references to UN declarations on the rights of indigenous peoples and of peasants and other people working in rural areas were included for the first time.
The text also addresses the consequences of malnutrition, and incorporates the need for artisanal and small-scale fishermen to receive technical assistance, technology transfer and capacity building.
By taking the initiative of presenting these three resolutions, Cuba has asserted itself as an active member of the Human Rights Council, and has contributed to the promotion and defense of the interests of the countries of the South, and of the principles of universality, interdependence, indivisibility, progressiveness, non-politicization and non-selectivity in the treatment of human rights.