Category Archives: Human Rights

CUBA, Human Rights

Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, at the Human Rights Council, Geneva, 2/28/23

 

Cuba’s voice will continue to be raised with a universal vision from the South
Speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, at the High-level Segment of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva, 28 February 2023

Author: Radio Habana Cuba | internet@granma.cu

March 9, 2023 07:03:16


Mr. President:

Far from encouraging the construction of a more united and cooperative world, inequalities, poverty, hunger and exclusion are multiplying. A tiny minority enjoys the exponential increase of its wealth, while the vast majorities struggle for survival.

Current patterns of production and consumption are irrational and unsustainable and threaten the existence of the human species.

It is essential to fight for a just, democratic and equitable international order centered on the human being, on the peoples of the world.

The promotion and protection of human rights is a common ideal. No country is exempt from the challenges, and none has the authority to consider itself a paradigm in the matter, to judge others, and much less, to politicize and use them to stigmatize sovereign states and economic-social projects that do not conform to the designs of the masters of finance, markets and weapons.

The imperialist attempts to turn this Human Rights Council into a tribunal against countries that do not subordinate themselves to the geopolitical interests of powerful governments erode the credibility of this body and would seem to be trying to take it back to the ways of the defunct Commission on Human Rights, which imploded precisely because of those practices.

Cuba, as a founding member State of the Human Rights Council, defends respectful and constructive dialogue and international cooperation.

We advocate the full exercise of and respect for the principles of universality, indivisibility, objectivity and non-selectivity in the treatment of the subject.

In this spirit, we present our candidacy for re-election as a member of the Human Rights Council, for the period 2024-2026, in the elections to be held next October. We thank in advance the confidence of all those countries that have already given us their valuable support.

Cuba’s voice will continue to be raised with a universal vision but from the South, in favor of the legitimate interests of developing countries, the poor, the neglected and excluded, from constructive engagement, responsible dialogue and the unwavering responsibility for the full realization of human rights for all.

Mr. President:

The U.S. government applies a genocidal policy of blockade, intensified in the extreme and of “maximum pressure”, which has subjected the Cuban economy to extraordinary tensions that impact on the deterioration of consumption and the standard of living of families, on inflation, prices, salaries, availability of food and medicines, and on the electric service; and hits the country’s income, financial transactions, industry, construction, services, trade, investment, health and education.

The infamous and unfounded inclusion of Cuba in the State Department’s arbitrary list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism further aggravates the difficult situation caused by the blockade and has devastating effects on our financial system.

U.S. imperialism finances destabilization and “regime change” operations, slander against Cuban international medical cooperation, and smear campaigns; it uses powerful toxic technological platforms and encourages censorship and manipulation of large digital networks against Cuba.

This illegal policy deliberately stimulates emigration, especially of qualified people of active working age.

Cuba rises every day facing these attacks, joining efforts, innovating, with an unlimited capacity for resistance and creativity; and advances in the inclusive debate, democratic participation, particularly of young people; and the fruitful and renewing change of “everything that must be changed”.

We continue with firm and irreversible steps to perfect the socialist state of law and social justice, and our socialist model of cultural, social and economic development, with the broad majority and active support of the Cuban people.

We are deeply grateful for the international solidarity and cooperation that Cuba receives from all corners of the world.

Mr. President:

In a free and universal referendum in 2019, we adopted a new Constitution with the secret vote of 87% of the citizens that strengthens the guarantees and the legal-institutional framework for the protection and promotion of human rights for all Cubans.

We implemented the National Program for the Advancement of Women, the Comprehensive Strategy for the Prevention and Attention to Gender Violence and in the Family Scenario; the National Program against Racism and Racial Discrimination, and the new Family Code, approved by referendum with 62% support.

Mr. President:

We will act from the high responsibility assumed with the Presidency of the Group of 77 plus China in 2023, convinced that a better world is possible, if we listen to the voice of our peoples, work for their benefit and defend with courage and close unity the collective and just interests of the South.

Thank you very much.

Human Rights

The atrocities experienced in the United States by the hundreds of thousands of victims of human trafficking

Where do the largest number of perpetrators and victims of human trafficking live?
The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 24.9 million victims of trafficking worldwide, a criminal activity that generates some 150 billion dollars a year in illicit profits.

Author: Francisco Arias Fernandez | internet@granma.cu

 

September 7, 2022 21:09:22


Online prostitute services via the internet; foreign and resident women trafficked, forced and coerced by the sex industry; regular customers; pimps; online child traffickers ; corrupt lifeguards, computer technicians, and waiters at Disney theme parks; other collateral merchants were part of an alarming police find in early 2022.

More than a hundred people, including several Disney employees, were arrested in an undercover human trafficking operation in central Florida, which is neither an isolated or rare event nor exclusive to the tourist American state.

Human trafficking is a growing concern in Florida, a territory that ranks third in the US for the impact of this scourge, with serious effects, since it often victimizes children, according to an article in the regional newspaper Orlando Sentinel, titled The Dark Side of the Sunshine State.

A report by the French television station France 24 revealed that, in 2019, in the United States some 400,000 people were daily victims of human trafficking, and five years ago that figure was 60,000, which shows an uncontrolled boom. He adds that this problem attacks the country stealthily, and few victims dare to speak out. Official reports indicate that child prostitution in the US is a concern, as it is estimated that 100,000 minors are forced into prostitution in that country each year. Continue reading The atrocities experienced in the United States by the hundreds of thousands of victims of human trafficking →

Human Rights

The United States is the world’s major violator of human rights

The United States is the world’s major violator of human rights
“The United States is the world’s major violator of human rights,” stated Jorge Valero, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Walkiria Juanes Sánchez september 3, 2020 11:09:44

“The United States is the world’s major violator of human rights,” stated Jorge Valero, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

As part of a series of conferences on global governance and development, entitled “The challenges and common problems of humanity at the current

time,” the diplomat recalled that amidst the worsening pandemic, the United States announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).

“It is ironic that the imperialist government made this decision just when the strengthening of this organization was most needed,” he noted.

In terms of security and disarmament, he denounced the U.S. decision to renounce its commitment to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and emphasized, “Trump has also stated that the Reduction of Strategic Arms Treaty (Start) will not be extended,” the only agreement on nuclear weapons currently in effect.

Valero insisted that multi-lateralism is the path to peace and emphasized that this is the focus promoted by the “Bolivarian, Chavista government, looking to construct an international structure that unites states in brotherhood and foments shared responsibility in international affairs.”

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, in his comments during the leaders meeting on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Sao Paulo Forum condemned the illegal U.S. blockade that has systematically violated the human rights of Cubans for over 60 years.

He sharply criticized the imperialists’ outrageous treatment of migrant families, “particularly boys and girls, mistreated, abused in a kind of cage, depriving human beings of dignity and their most elemental rights.”

Before the UN General Assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla denounced the United States as the world’s principal violator of human rights, a pattern repeated systematically, massively and flagrantly.

During a meeting held November 1, 2019, to present the proposed UN resolution entitled: “The necessity of putting an end to the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba,” Rodríguez recalled that there were 2.3 million persons incarcerated in the United States, where 10.5 arrests a year are made, and that prisoners continue to be held illicitly and indefinitely at the illegal U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo.

“More than a million of their citizens sleep in the street; 28.5 lack medical insurance; women earn approximately 85% of what men do; and accusations of sexual harassment are common.”

On a global level, Rodríguez noted, the U.S. government has signed only 30% instruments of international law and does not recognize the right to peace or development, not even the rights of boys and girls.

Human Rights

Cuba denounces U.S. threat to human rights around the world

Cuba denounces U.S. unilateralism as a threat to human rights around the world
“Unfortunately, the unilateralism of the United States undermines the promotion and protection of human rights of everyone on the planet,” stated Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla on Tuesday in Geneva

Granmafebruary 26, 2020 16:02:08

The Cuban Foreign Minister stated that our country will continue to save lives and provide health and well-being wherever we are requested.

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Photo: Jorge Luis González
“Unfortunately, the unilateralism of the United States undermines the promotion and protection of human rights of everyone on the planet,” stated Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla on Tuesday in Geneva.

Speaking during the High Level Segment of the 43rd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council, he added that neoliberal policies imposed by the northern nation violate economic, social and cultural rights and prevent other nations from exercising their right to development.

Among several examples of coercive actions, the Cuban Foreign Minister emphasized that the interests of all countries are damaged if they remained inert in the face of U. S. threats to crush the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, destabilize Nicaragua, and destroy other nations.

He stressed that the unconventional wars waged by the United States and its violations of international law systematically violate the rights to peace and self-determination.

“Their unwillingness to confront climate change poses an existential challenge to the human species. The political manipulation and double standards of the U.S. impede genuine international cooperation on human rights,” he added.

He insisted that the tightening of the U.S. blockade of Cuba represents an act of genocide, according to the 1948 Convention, “a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of our people.”

Rodriguez further stated, “The use of non-conventional measures to prevent the arrival of fuel to our country has damaged every aspect of the daily lives of Cuban men and women, public transportation, education, health and food. The full application of the Helms-Burton Act deepens the extraterritorial impact of the blockade.”

He explained that the U.S. government has placed extreme limitations on travel and air connections between the two countries, which affect Cuban families, residents in other nations, and the right to travel of the country’s own citizens.

The Foreign Minister referred to attacks on Cuba’s international medical cooperation and how U.S. hostility has threatened the health of millions of human beings who benefit from these programs around the world.

With the suspension of Cuban medical cooperation to several countries in our region alone, medical care for 67 million people has been seriously affected. The international community recognizes the professionalism and altruism of the more than 400,000 Cuban health workers, who over 56 years have served on missions in 164 nations, Rodríguez noted.

In this context, he recalled that the United Nations Organization and the World Health Organization have noted the fundamental contribution made by Cuban medical cooperation to the success of the fight against cholera in Haiti and Ebola in West Africa.

Rodriguez stated, “Cuba’s response is firm: on the basis of legitimate intergovernmental cooperation programs, we will continue to save lives and provide health and well-being wherever we are requested.”

During his remarks, the Foreign Minister explained that, despite the blockade and hostility of the United States, “Cuba is advancing in the construction of an independent, sovereign, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation, based on the proven capacity of resistance and creativity of our people.”

He reaffirmed that Cuba will continue to honor its commitments to international cooperation in the field of human rights, in particular its obligations under international instruments in this arena.