Mr. President,
We commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Cuba reiterates its support for these landmark documents, which remain fully relevant.
Progress has been made, but many challenges remain in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and all forms of related intolerance.
The international community must settle its historical debt to African peoples and people of African descent, who were victims of colonization, the transatlantic slave trade, and slavery.
The effects of these abominable crimes persist, despite their formal declaration by the United Nations General Assembly as the most serious crime against humanity. Cuba welcomes this just and necessary decision, which represents a significant step forward.
Resolution 80/250 must not become a dead letter. A priority in its implementation should be the establishment of a comprehensive reparations framework to remedy the historical wrongs committed against Africans and people of African descent. Reparations should include a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.
Cuba supports the adoption of a United Nations Declaration on the full recognition of the rights of people of African descent and reaffirms its commitment to the promotion and protection of those rights.
Thank you very much.