Mr. President,
Once again, the Czech Republic has sought to set itself up as the supreme court on human rights.
In this debate, it has attempted to lecture other countries, including Cuba, on how they should behave.
Shame!
No one has asked for or is interested in the Czech Republic's useless opinions on human rights in other countries.
We do not recognize its moral authority to judge anyone.
How dare Czech representatives judge others, when the Czech Republic's shameful policies of discrimination and intolerance against minorities, including Roma, whose children suffer institutionalized segregation in schools, are well known?
The European Committee of Social Rights has repeatedly denounced the Czech Republic for denying access to housing and social benefits to vulnerable groups.
Racist, discriminatory, homophobic and intolerant discourse, as well as hate speech proliferate with impunity in the Czech Republic.
This is consistent with the unacceptable treatment of immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and legally resident foreigners in that country.
There is still an 18% wage gap between men and women in the Czech Republic, which perpetuates economic inequalities and gender inequality in the 21st century.
We have not forgotten, and neither will the massacred Palestinian people, that the Czech Republic was the country that, last March, requested a vote in this Council and voted against the three resolutions on Palestine, attempting to offer shelter and impunity for Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the other occupied Palestinian territories.
It is the same country that, practically alone in this Council, has opposed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination; to denounce and monitor the illegality of Israeli settlements; and to recognize and address the serious human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
We know full well that the Czech delegation will ensure that Washington is informed today that they have dutifully followed the State Department's instructions to criticize Cuba. They are fooling no one.
Instead of coming to this chamber with the vain pretense of judging others, the Czech representatives should address and resolve the serious, systematic and growing human rights violations in their own country.
Thank you very much.