New York, 4 Octubre 2016. At the Third Committee debate on social development, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal considered the eradication of poverty, the promotion of full employment and social integration as three pillars to achieve social development and insisted upon the necessity to implement lasting and inclusive public policies that encourage the various aspects of social development, considering the major role played by the States in this matter, with the involvement of others.
The Cuban representative highlighted that Cuba is making some progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals with the moral strength of having met the Millennium Development Goals and the satisfaction of having provided cooperation to other developing countries in a number of sectors, a result attained despite the persistence of the US blockade imposed against Cuba for over half a century, which causes damages and hardship to the Cuban people. She pointed out it is the main obstacle for the economic development of the country and affects other nations due to its extraterritorial scope; at the same time, it continues to harm the interests of US citizens and companies.
After describing with figures the nation’s progress in the matter, underscoring Cuba´s infant mortality rate which reaches 4.3 per a thousand live births; a 78 year-life expectancy at birth; the inexistence of illiterate people and the presence of auniversal, accessible and free health care system for the entire population, jointly with the fact that more than two thirds of the State budget is allocated to raise levels of education, health, social security and assistance, culture, sports, scientific and technical research, among other sectors, the Cuban diplomat took the view that only giving due priority to social development, as the core of our public policies, and making a strong commitment to solidarity and genuine cooperation among all countries, we will enable for the social development goals of the 2030 Agenda to gain real substance and a positive and concrete impact on the life of millions of human beings, for whom a decent life and access to services and basic opportunities remain an illusion. (Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)