Geneva, September 9, 2025.- For the first time since its inception, the UN Human Rights Council examined today the impact of the economic blockade and the energy siege imposed on Cuba by the United States. A large number of delegations participated after the Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures presented her report on her visit to Cuba.
Cuban Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson emphasized that the United States lies when it cynically claims there is no blockade or energy siege against Cuba. “The Special Rapporteur’s report exposes the liar,” he stated, as it concludes that the U.S. blockade not only exists but is steadily intensifying, causing enormous damage and violating the rights of the Cuban people. The assessment conducted on the ground for the first time by a specialized UN mechanism also shows Washington deceives when it blames the Cuban government; the report underscores Cuba’s sustained efforts to protect the population and mitigate the coercive measures.
“The perverse and deliberate aim is to inflict extreme deprivation and total suffocation upon Cuban families. They are attempting to engineer a humanitarian tragedy in order to destabilize the country and achieve their political objectives,” he asserted. On the energy siege since January, he said its architects “celebrate as successes” the agony of a mother losing a child due to lack of medicines, prolonged power outages, high food prices, and water shortages, among other basic services.
He warned Cuba faces the threat of military aggression under an absurd pretext, and that there is no justification for attacking Cuba or imposing inhumane coercive measures. “Our country does not want war. But should an aggression occur, —which we hope will never happen— our people will defend themselves to the very end.” He warned that silence or indifference weakens international law and places everyone in danger: “Yesterday it was Gaza. Today it is Cuba. Tomorrow, it could be any of the nations represented here.”
He affirmed that Cuba will not surrender and that the Cuban people will prevail, because their resilience, creativity, and determination cannot be blockaded. He concluded by citing National Hero José Martí: ‘A just principle, from the depths of a cave, is more powerful than an army.’ We shall prevail, because right and reason are on Cuba’s side.”
(Cubaminrex-CubanMission to Geneva)
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