Mr. President,
Cuba is part of the group of countries that presented draft resolution L.32.
When adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, States committed to ending hunger and ensuring access for all people, including children, to healthy and nutritious food.
These commitments will not be met. Hunger and malnutrition will not be eradicated by 2030. Access to nutritious food will not be guaranteed for all children.
On the contrary, 181 million children live in severe food poverty, 150 million children under the age of five suffer from stunting due to malnutrition, and 43 million suffer from wasting.
The world produces enough food to feed its entire population.
The root cause of hunger and malnutrition, including among children, is the profound inequality in access to available food and the imposition of artificial barriers.
Draft resolution L.32 emphasizes the need to strengthen international assistance and cooperation, capacity-building, and technology transfer.
The draft calls for refraining from applying measures that are incompatible with international law and that affect children’s equitable access to nutritious food.
Cuban children suffer the devastating impacts of these measures.
By imposing a criminal blockade on Cuba, the United States continues to deprive our children of their right to adequate and healthy food.
That country prevents more than 7,000 containers, already purchased and loaded with food and medicines, from entering Cuba.
No government should have as a policy the purpose of causing hunger in other nations.
Cuba calls on all members of the Council to support the adoption of draft resolution L.32 by consensus.
Thank you very much.