Mr. President,
The inhumane and criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States against Cuba, as has been emphasized by several Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council, constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of the entire Cuban population.
The blockade, among other things, violates the right to life, to food, to health, to live free from poverty and discrimination, as well as Cuba’s right to development.
Several joint communications have been sent by special procedures of this Council, urging the Government of the United States to put an end to these grave violations of the human rights of the Cuban people. Yet, the Government in Washington continues to disregard these appeals.
Between March 2024 and February 2025 alone, the blockade caused damages amounting to more than 7.5 billion dollars, a 49 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Cuba’s Gross Domestic Product could have grown by 9.2 per cent over the past year had these unilateral coercive measures not been in place.
No figure can capture the emotional damage, anguish, suffering and deprivation that the blockade inflicts upon Cuban families.
On 28 and 29 October, the United Nations General Assembly will once again consider the draft resolution entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” We call on all States to vote in favor of this resolution.
Mr. President,
The genocide being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, with the complicity of the United States, must end. It is incumbent upon this Council to ensure that those responsible and their accomplices are held accountable and face the consequences of their actions.
We reiterate our solidarity with the Government and people of Venezuela in the face of the escalation of actions by the Government of the United States aimed at justifying military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Cuba urges the international community to prevent such aggression and to preserve Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
Thank you.