Mr. President,
We take note of the report of the Working Group and reiterate our support for its important mandate.
Twenty years after the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, it is necessary to strengthen international commitments to address and prevent this scourge. In Cuba, these practices were eradicated as of 1 January 1959.
Given the sensitivity and implications of the issues under its consideration, it is important to ensure that the Working Group always acts objectively and in strict adherence to the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures mandate holders.
In order to prevent the Working Group from being used to pursue allegations for clearly political purposes, which waste the limited human and financial resources of this important mechanism and undermine its credibility, it is important to carry out a minimum verification of the credibility and veracity of the sources making such allegations.
It is the responsibility of all of us to prevent the manipulation and abuse of Special Procedures for purposes unrelated to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to constructive dialogue and respectful cooperation with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, based on the principles of non-selectivity, non-politicization, objectivity and impartiality.
Thank you very much.