Statement by the Cuban delegation in the panel on the priority theme entitled “Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development”, in the run-up to the “World Social Summit” under the tittle “Second World Summit for Social Development”

Mr. President,

We appreciate the convening of this high-level panel.

Cuba is fully committed to holding the Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar in November 2025.

The commitments made in Copenhagen and the 2030 Agenda have yet to be fulfilled. We are convinced that the Summit will be a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the commitments made in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, which remain in full force and effect 30 years later.

We hope that the process leading up to the Summit, facilitated by Morocco and Belgium, to whom we reiterate our support in advance, will be underpinned by a genuine political will on the part of all to reach concrete agreements on social development for the benefit of our peoples.

The Political Declaration to be adopted in Qatar should reaffirm the three pillars of social development: poverty eradication, full and productive employment, and decent work for all and social inclusion, as well as their intertwined nature.

We believe that this document should critically reflect on the challenges posed by the current international order, including obstacles to social development, especially the unilateral coercive measures imposed on countries of the South.

We will work to ensure that the text includes concrete commitments and actions at both the national and international levels: 

We will work to ensure that the text includes concrete commitments and actions, both at the national and international levels, on:

1. Each of the pillars of social development: poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social inclusion.

2. International cooperation in its different modalities, as well as international solidarity, in order to advance towards fair and equitable social development.

3. Reform of the international financial architecture, including multilateral initiatives on foreign debt with the participation of developing countries.

4. Access to inclusive, equitable and quality education and lifelong health services for all, with emphasis on the people in vulnerable situations.

Cuba is committed to participating in this process in an active and constructive manner, with a view to promoting the common good of all.

Thank you