New York, 14 February 2022.
Allow me to begin by expressing the certainty of my delegation that 2022 will be another year of success in the valuable work of UN-Women. I would also like to express our full support to the new Executive Director, Ms. Sima Bahous, and to the Bureau of UN-Women’s Executive Board for 2022, led by Ambassador Rabab Fatima, from Bangladesh.
UN-Women is a crucial actor in the efforts to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. This objective is inherent to human dignity and constitutes a moral imperative with which Cuba is fully committed.
As we embark on the implementation of UN-Women’s Strategic Plan for the period 2022-2025, it is crucial that we pursue it strictly reflecting the Entity’s encompassing mandate, with full respect for sovereignty and national ownership, and taking into account the diverse levels of development and national circumstances and priorities.
In accomplishing the Entity’s mandate, coordination of efforts is of essence. We take note with interest of the decision of the Executive Director, in consultation with the Chair and Bureau of the Executive Board, in relation to the Executive Board’s Secretariat reporting to her and being a part of her Office. Further information on the implications of this decision would be much appreciated.
If we truly want a better world for all women and girls, it is imperative to strengthen international cooperation towards developing countries. Development is essential to continue advancing in the promotion and protection of all human rights for women and girls.
However, that will not happen without strengthening multilateralism and solidarity. In the same spirit, the application of unilateral coercive measures must stop, as they are contrary to the UN Charter and International Law, and have a direct impact on women and girls in targeted countries. The 6 decades old US blockade against Cuba, tightened to unprecedented levels including in the context of COVID-19, is a clear example.
From our part, and despite the serious impact of the US blockade on our economy and society, we will continue our efforts towards gender equality and the empowerment of women, through the implementation of the National Programme for the Advancement of Women. Nothing will stop us from moving forward in achieving even better results in this field.
I thank you.