Segment dedicated to UNFPA. June 8, 2022
Mr. President:
Dear Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director,
Dear members of the Executive Board and other delegations,
We thank the Executive Director of UNFPA for her statement and the results achieved this year of implementation of the Strategic Plan, 2022-2025.
We highlight that, in 2022, UNFPA gave new impetus to speeding up the achievement of the three transformative outcomes of its strategic plan and scaling up the implementation of the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The entity’s regional and global programs demonstrated a high level of achievement in the past year.
Cuba welcomes the Fund’s continuous collaboration in areas under its attention and its support for national efforts in areas such as the generation of demographic data for incorporation into population policies, technical assistance for better communication on demographic dynamics, the challenges of aging, maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, and comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents and young people.
Population and gender issues continue to be a priority for Cuba, and this is reflected in every program and project designed in our National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030.
In a context marked by a pandemic that has had negative social and economic consequences on the progress made in recent years in these areas, despite scarce resources and limitations as a result of an extreme blockade imposed by the U.S. Government, Cuba concentrates its efforts on maintaining and ensuring social policies and benefits for the protection and care of the population.
Our country is making progress and giving priority to the implementation of the National Program for the Advancement of Women, which reinforces gender equity. Likewise, the Cuban population has an advanced new Family Code, characterized by inclusion, diversity, non-discrimination and equality, which protects, inter alia, healthy aging. In this regard, we are grateful for UNFPA’s support during the formulation and presentation of the draft Code and the support provided during technical meetings with the participation of experts.
Mr. President,
Cuba reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of the Cairo Plan of Action, the Montevideo Consensus and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Allow me to conclude by expressing our confidence that UNFPA will continue to play a pivotal role in addressing our particular development needs and goals in the future.
Thank you