Paris, 17 February 2025. — During the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Cuban diplomat Laura Álvarez Delgado, official of the Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO, reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to this international instrument and warned about the consequences of the tightening of the blockade and the energy siege imposed on the Island.
The Cuban representative noted that, under normal circumstances, her intervention would have focused on highlighting Cuba’s active participation in the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Convention in 2025, as well as presenting national progress in cultural policies, artistic training programmes, community projects and international festivals. She also referred to Cuba’s contribution to cultural cooperation between the Caribbean and the European Union, particularly through the Transcultura programme, with special attention to Small Island Developing States.
However, she stated that the current situation compels the country to use this forum to denounce the effects of the tightening of coercive measures imposed on Cuba, particularly restrictions affecting access to fuel, which directly impact the country’s economic, social and cultural life.
The diplomat explained that these circumstances have led to the cancellation of major cultural events and forced many artistic and creative initiatives to move into digital formats amid serious technical and connectivity limitations, affecting Cuba’s cultural life and limiting both the development of artists and creators and other peoples’ access to Cuba’s cultural wealth.
She further stressed that such measures undermine the full implementation of the 2005 Convention by restricting the necessary conditions for the promotion and circulation of cultural expressions.
The Cuban representative also expressed gratitude for the solidarity demonstrated by artists, intellectuals, organizations and governments that have shown support for the Cuban people in the current context.
The intervention concluded with a call to the international community to defend the Cuban people’s right to fully develop their cultural life and to maintain open the spaces for cooperation and dialogue promoted by UNESCO.
The Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO reiterated that, despite current challenges, the country will continue working in favour of cultural diversity, international cooperation and the principles enshrined in the 2005 Convention.
The full statement is reproduced below:
Mr. Chair,
Excellencies, distinguished colleagues,
Allow me to begin by reaffirming Cuba’s firm and unwavering commitment to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
It is regrettable that, instead of recalling with you Cuba’s contribution to the celebration of the Convention’s twentieth anniversary last year — both through the participation of our artists here and activities throughout our national territory; or highlighting my country’s role as a bridge for capacity-building and cultural exchange between the Caribbean and the European Union, particularly in favour of Small Island Developing States, as demonstrated through the Transcultura programme; or presenting the alignment of Cuban public policies with Mondiacult 2025, as well as our artistic training programmes, community projects and international festivals; or contributing to normative progress of the Convention in the digital environment — we must instead use this space to denounce the crime being committed against Cuba today.
The energy blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, following the executive order issued on 29 January, further intensifies an illegal policy of suffocation and collective punishment maintained for more than six decades and includes, among its violations of the human rights of the Cuban people, impacts in the cultural sphere.
Cuba is a peaceful and safe country. The current complex situation has forced the cancellation of major cultural events and the transfer, under severe technical limitations, of numerous initiatives from physical venues to digital platforms, affecting the artistic and creative life of our people. The blockade imposed against Cuba severely threatens compliance with the 2005 Convention, limits the development of our artists and creators and also restricts other peoples’ access to Cuban cultural richness.
Cuba is not alone. Hundreds of artists and intellectuals around the world are mobilized today in support of the Cuban people. To this civil society, and to the supportive and humanitarian governments of the world, we express our gratitude.
The hour is critical.
As Cuba’s National Hero José Martí wrote in 1895 regarding our duty in the Americas: “Whoever rises today for Cuba rises for all times.”
Let Cuba live!
Thank you very much.