Mr. President, dear Ambassadors of Botswana and Ireland, dear Colleagues:
Cuba attaches the utmost importance to gender equality, the empowerment of women and the eradication of all forms of violence and discrimination against them. This is a will of the State and a priority of the Government.
Allow me to make some general comments on the intergovernmental process to explore options for the CSW revitalization.
Cuba strongly supports the mandate of the Commission on the Status of Women.
It is therefore essential that this process does not seek to modify that mandate, alter its subsidiary nature to ECOSOC, or diminish its role in the comprehensive monitoring of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the provisions of which remain in full force and effect. Nor should some critical areas of the Beijing Platform for Action be privileged over others.
This process should not duplicate efforts or create additional reporting and accountability burdens. Instead, it could assess the extent to which the review themes and emerging issues are being adequately used in the CSW, and identify ways to make them more effective.
In addition, this process should not be aimed to promote the selectivity, punitive approaches, politicization and double standards that are currently on the rise in other UN bodies.
Given the non-binding nature of CSW decisions, any outcome of this process should not have such implications for Member States.
Civil society organizations, whose work and programs are consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, have much to contribute to gender equality and the advancement of women. However, this process should not change the intergovernmental nature of the Commission. Civil society participation in the CSW should continue to be in accordance with the established rules and procedures of the United Nations.
To conclude, I would like to emphasize that Cuba will participate in this process in a constructive manner, based on its historical position in favor of full equality between men and women.
Thank you