During his speech at the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, reaffirmed the country's commitment to protecting and ensuring the well-being of persons with disabilities.
The diplomat emphasized that inclusion, accessibility, and respect for diversity are fundamental pillars of the Cuban social policy and stressed that "leaving no one behind" is an unwavering priority for the Cuban state. Despite the economic challenges imposed by the U.S. blockade, he noted that Cuba continues to develop sound public policies, institutional structures, and legal frameworks.
Soberón Guzmán also denounced the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government, and exacerbated by Cuba's unjust inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, has a direct and tangible impact on the care of persons with disabilities. He explained that 15 minutes of the blockade costs the equivalent of the hearing aids required by special education students, and 30 minutes cost the equivalent of all the wheelchairs needed by the educational system.
Despite these limitations, Cuba continues to provide free hearing aids, orthopedic prostheses, wheelchairs, and canes to those in need. The ambassador emphasized that people with disabilities in Cuba are not merely beneficiaries of social programs; rather, they are active agents of change with a recognized and respected voice in the political and social spheres through various civil society organizations.
Soberón Guzmán also highlighted legislative advances since the adoption of the 2019 Constitution, particularly the new Family Code, which strengthens the legal protection of the human rights of this population.
The Ambassador concluded that Cuba will continue to promote the autonomy, dignity, and full participation of persons with disabilities as an expression of the State's will and a government priority, which will never be renounced.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations