New York, February 4, 2026 – Cuba’s Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, addressed the general debate of the 64th Social Development Committee meeting, under the theme “Promoting social development and social justice through coordinated, equitable, and inclusive policies,” where he presented Cuba's position on the structural challenges that hinder social development on a global scale.
During his speech, the Ambassador stressed that the commitments made at the World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen and reaffirmed in Doha remain an outstanding debt to the peoples, while the aims of the 2030 Agenda are increasingly detached from the daily reality of millions of people, especially in developing countries.
The Permanent Representative warned of the unprecedented challenges facing humanity today, exacerbated by an unjust and unequal international order that perpetuates poverty and exclusion. In this context, he questioned the paradox of a world where millions of people suffer from hunger, food insecurity, and lack of social protection, while trillions of dollars are spent annually on the arms race.
Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán condemned the persistent and unacceptable imposition of unilateral coercive measures against countries in the South, in open violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, and recalled that Cuba has been the victim of the most comprehensive, complex, and prolonged system of coercive measures ever imposed against any country.
The Permanent Representative explained that the blockade against Cuba severely limits the acquisition of medicines, equipment, and health technologies; makes the importation of food, fertilizers, and agricultural inputs more expensive; and restricts access to digital platforms and technologies essential for inclusive, quality education, with direct impact on the well-being of families and the most vulnerable sectors.
Finally, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán reiterated that Cuba is a peaceful, supportive, and cooperative nation, committed to inclusive, equitable, and people-centered policies, international cooperation, and multilateralism. He emphasized the urgency of moving toward a more just, equitable, and peaceful international order as an indispensable condition for promoting social development and social justice for all peoples.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.