New York, February 10, 2026 – Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán addressed the Executive Board's First Regular Session on Tuesday, reaffirming Havana's strong commitment to protecting children and adolescents amid escalating global conflicts, a climate crisis, inequality, hunger, and preventable diseases.
In his statement, the ambassador urged UNICEF to secure adequate, flexible, and predictable funding to fully implement its mandate and tackle escalating global challenges affecting millions of children.
He stressed that child protection is a state priority in Cuba, enshrined in its Constitution and the new Code on Childhood, Adolescence and Youth, which recognizes girls and boys as essential actors in their own development.
The Permanent Representative also highlighted UNICEF’s historic support to national efforts in key areas such as maternal and child health, comprehensive early childhood care, quality of education, climate resilience and natural disaster response.
However, he condemned the severe toll of the U.S. economic siege on Cuba—now over six decades long—highlighting its sharp deterioration of social indicators, including children's rights. He noted that the policy's cumulative effects, worsened by recent fuel supply restrictions, directly harm the health, nutrition, education, and well-being of Cubans, especially children and adolescents.
Despite these adversities, Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with UNICEF and expressed confidence in the Executive Board's support for approving the Country Programme to advance Cuban children's holistic development.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.