Mr. President,
Our delegation thanks and takes note of the report presented by the Special Rapporteur.
Cuba reiterates its firm rejection of all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment—practices that are prohibited by our Constitution and are severely sanctioned under our laws.
The Cuban Penal Code criminalizes torture, enforced disappearance, and forced or compulsory labor, considering them offenses against human dignity.
The existing legislation provides guarantees to protect all persons against these crimes in our country.
The State takes the necessary measures to prevent the commission of acts prohibited under the Convention against Torture and, should they occur, to punish them severely.
In Cuba, there is no—and will be no—space for impunity regarding acts covered by the Convention, nor laws or regulations that would permit them.
As a State Party to the Convention against Torture since 1995, our country will continue to strictly comply with the provisions of this instrument, even in the hostile context in which Cuba operates, marked by the unprecedented intensification of the criminal economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States.
Thank you very much.