Today, Cuba ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, in compliance with the decision announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba last 28 January. This ratification reaffirms the commitment of Cuba to the rights protected by this instrument and validates the fact that in the last 50 years, there has not even been one disappeared or tortured person, and not one extra-judicial execution. In spite of the fact that the Cuban Revolution has faced for five decades foreign aggressions, mercenary invasions, acts of State terrorism, assassination attempts against its leaders, economic sabotage, and the fiercest blockade, the Cuban people has defended itself without ever resorting to enforced disappearance, torture or extra-judicial execution. This new decision of the Cuban Government once again demonstrates Cuba’s willingness to strengthen its cooperation with the universal mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, on the basis of the respect for the sovereignty of our country and the right of the people of Cuba to self-determination. This act of ratification responds to a sovereign decision of the Cuban Government. It is not the result of any pressure whatsoever. Cuba has never nor will it ever act under pressure. This is a new moment in international cooperation, after the elimination of the unjust and selective anti-Cuba mandate, imposed by the United States through blackmail and pressures, on the former Human Rights Commission. The instrument accrediting Cuba as State Party to this convention was deposited today, consolidating this historic victory of the Cuban people and thus overcoming the obstacle preventing Cuba from going further in matters of international cooperation. With this ratification, Cuba is now State Party to 42 of the most important international human rights treaties and conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention against Torture, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Cuba has been also signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, for almost a year. Cuba has recently submitted its reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and it is working on the report to Committee against Torture, which must be ready for submission by the end of the first half of this year. All this expresses the will of the country to seriously comply with the commitments made as part of its sovereign decision to become State Party to these important international instruments on human rights. In the context also of this commitment to cooperate with the mechanisms which are implemented on a universal, non-selective and non-politicized basis in the field of human rights, the Cuban Government will proceed to extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Manfred Novak, to visit the country this year. Cuba will welcome Mr. Novak, as part of the same will which made us recently host the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Cuba reiterates its readiness to continue inviting other Human Rights Council’s special procedures to visit the country, in tune with the new conditions and consistent with the Cuban government’s long-lasting tradition of cooperation. Cuba strongly defends the genuine and respectful international cooperation in promoting human rights, and likewise opposes the attempt to use the issue of human rights, so noble, universal and of interest for all, in a politicized, selective and discriminatory manner. Cuba is willing to offer its cooperation as long as the current cooperation environment prevails. We hope this situation lasts in the Human Rights Council. If this situation changes, we will have no other alternative than to raise again the battle standards we took up for 20 years in the former Commission. We Cubans will not accept going back to politicization, discrimination or double-standards. New York, 2 February 2009 |