Cuba has long implemented educational programmes and allocated significant resources to build a strong professional base in biotechnology, which has led to the establishment of an internationally recognised biopharmaceutical sector.
Cuba emphasizes the urgent need to regulate private military and security companies, which are rapidly increasing in number and becoming ever more involved in conflicts, violations of International Law and International Humanitarian Law, as well as human rights abuses. In this context, we reaffirm Cuba’s strong support for the adoption of a robust, legally binding international instrument for the regulation, monitoring, and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies.
For over six decades, Cuba has been the victim of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government, which is the greatest obstacle to the country's economic and social development. No citizen or sector of the Cuban economy is exempt from the adverse effects of this illegal policy, and the area of science and innovation is no exception.
First Deputy Minister of Communications, Cro. Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, heads the Cuban delegation to the 28th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
The delegation will develop an active work agenda within the framework of the Commission. It will denounce the impact of the blockade on strategic sectors such as science, technology, development and access to information technologies.
Cuba considers the work of human rights defenders not only important, but essential. We attach paramount importance to the protection of their rights. Those who break the law and operate in the service of foreign powers to implement their regime-change agendas and undermine the constitutional order freely chosen by the citizens do not deserve the honourable title of human rights defenders.