Mr. President,
In addition to its impact on the lives of millions of people, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing serious socio-economic consequences for all countries, jeopardizing the achievements earned in terms of sustainable development, including health.
Mr. President,
The year that is ending has been marked by the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which adds new challenges and complicates others that already existed for the international community.
Most eloquently, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the unjust nature of the international order in which we live, which multiplies the privileges of rich countries and perpetuates the shortcomings of the poor.
Madam President,
As long as selectivity, punitive practices, double standards and political manipulation continue, particularly against countries of the South, the international community will not be able to make real progress regarding the promotion and protection of all human rights for all persons.
Madam Chair,
We thank the Independent Expert for his presentation.
The promotion of a democratic and equitable international order is more relevant today than ever. With a democratic and equitable international order, the pandemic would not have the effects is having and will continue to have, disproportionately, on countries of the South.
Madam Chair,
We welcome the Special Rapporteur and congratulate her on her appointment. Like her predecessors, she will count on our full support.
We appreciate the presentation of her report A/75/209, which examines the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madam Chair,
My delegation welcomes Mr. Zamir Akram and thanks his oral presentation. We reiterate to the Working Group on the Right to Development our full support in the fulfillment of its important mandate.
We regret the postponement of the twenty-first session of the Working Group and we hope that it can be held as rescheduled. We request the Office of the High Commissioner to provide all possible support to the Working Group, so that it can resume its work.
Madam Chair,
My delegation appreciates the opportunity to exchange views with the High Commissioner; and notes the presentation of report A/75/36.
We reiterate our support for her work and Office, based on UNGA resolution 48/141, which underlined the need for promotion and protection of all human rights to be guided by the principles of impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation.
Madam Chair,
In addition to its health impact, the COVID-19 will bring about serious economic and social repercussions for all countries. Nevertheless, as is always the case in the current unjust international order, developing countries will be the ones to bear the highest costs.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting international cooperation in terms of human rights. We defend the principles of mutual respect, truth, justice, universality, impartiality and non-selectivity as the only way to promote and protect all human rights.
Higher priority and visibility should be granted to solving problems such as extreme poverty, illiteracy, lack of access to basic rights such as health, education and food, among others, which characterize the unjust international economic order.
Mr. Chairman,
We appreciate the progress noted in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on children;" however, there are still huge challenges ahead.
