Distinguished Ambassadors Gladys Mokhawa y Fergal Mythen, dear colleagues:
Allow me to begin by reaffirming that Cuba attaches upmost importance to the advancement of women. Gender equality, the empowerment of women and the eradication of all forms of violence and discrimination against them are objectives that Cuba fully shares. Our country has taken significant steps forward in this area.
Cuba is a proud member of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). We strongly support its mandate, as the most important international intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Allow me to share some general comments on the intergovernmental process we are starting today to explore options to revitalise the CSW.
We profoundly believe that this process could not lead to the weakening, alteration or denaturalization of the CSW´s mandate, nor could it diminish its role to comprehensive follow-up and monitoring of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, nor could it favor one group of critical areas over others or undermine the role of the Commission as the primary forum for promoting BDPA implementation, whose precepts remain in full force and effect.
We note with appreciation the fact that this process is conducted open to the participation of all UN member states on an equal footing.
We believe that is the right format for this process, that should be conducted without unnecessary haste, and whose final outcome should be adopted by consensus.
We consider that discussions on the revitalisation of the CSW should give priority to strengthening the pillar of development in the Commission's work. Development is a prerequisite for the advancement of women and the promotion and protection of their human rights. Any steps to strengthen the role of the CSW in this direction will undoubtedly benefit women and girls.
We also suggest to focus our deliberations on the CSW annual outcomes and on the measures to be taken to ensure their adequate implementation.
Finally, my delegation would like to underline its understanding that this process should not be used in any way as a means to establish specific eligibility criteria for membership in the body, nor to establish specific clauses for the exclusion of members.
Such an approach, not only would go against the mandate of this intergovernmental process, but would risk politicising the Commission and would undermine the overarching objective of its work, which is the empowerment of women through the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
My delegation stands ready to participate constructively in this process. Count on Cuba in advancing the shared goal of working together for having a CSW is fit for purpose, while reaffirming its mandate.
I thank you.