The recognition came during the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council (HRC) held yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland.
After the intervention of the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, during the fourth circle, representatives of various countries highlighted the actions of the Caribbean Island to approve a legislation that promotes and protects human rights, including the adoption of a new Constitution.
The delegations include China, Angola and Nicaragua, who praised the excellent progress of the largest of the Antilles in the protection of human rights and fulfilled the socioeconomic rights of all its citizens, despite the blockade imposed by the United States.
Delivering his speech on Wednesday in Geneva, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla revealed that countries like Lebanon, Morocco, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia and Venezuela, among others, noted the Cuban government's tireless efforts to guarantee civil rights, including the fight against racism and discrimination, likewise actions to treat gender violence.
He stated that Mexico also highlighted the recent approval in the Antillean country of a women's empowerment program, while Mongolia congratulated the Island for the approval of its new Constitution, which was preceded by a process of discussion of the text by the population.
Rodríguez Parrilla affirmed that Cuba would continue to promote the construction of an increasingly free, democratic, fair, supportive, participatory and socialist society.
He stressed that his country would continue to improve the institutional and legal frameworks for the protection of the human rights of all its citizens.
“Despite Cuba's progress since the previous Review (2018), we have dissatisfactions and we strive to improve, promote ‘full dignity’ and ‘all justice’ and face current challenges,” he noted.
He advanced that since the creation in 2006, the UPR is a unique mechanism of the HRC that stipulates that every four and a half years each Member State of the United Nations undergoes an analysis of its performance in matters of human rights.
“Since the first UPR was carried out in 2008, all UN Member States have undergone the evaluation three times,” he pointed out, saying: “The fourth exam cycle began in November 2022.”
