“#Cuba builds its future” despite the #blockade, exhibit at the United Nations

Published by Alma

By Cubavsbloqueo-Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations

The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, inaugurated on October 23 the exhibit «Cuba builds its future,» which shows the work of Cubans and the achievements of the Revolution, despite the criminal economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against the island, a vile policy of the US government that flagrantly violates the human rights of the Cuban people.

The exhibit, composed of infographics describing validated data of Cuban achievements in health care, education, social inclusion of women, among others, shows the battle of the island against all types of discrimination, the process of constitutional reform as a full exercise of democracy, as well as the Cuban international cooperation policy.

The opening words of the event were delivered by the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, who took the opportunity to call on her counterparts  to vote in favor of the draft resolution to be submitted by the island on October 31 at the General Assembly, demanding the Government of the United States, for the 27th consecutive occasion, to end the blockade on Cuba, the main obstacle to the development of the country and its economic relations with the rest of the world, including the United States.

The event was attended by more than 100 representatives of the missions accredited to the United Nations, members of solidarity groups with Cuba in the United States, correspondents of the press accredited to the UN, and officials of the world organization.(Cubavsbloqueo-Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)

More information:

Address by the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, at the opening of the Exhibition Cuba Builds its Future in the United Nations.

Distinguished guests,
Friends of Cuba,

Today we inaugurate in the United Nations the exhibition Cuba Builds its Future dedicated to the Cuban people.

This exhibition shows in a simple way how every day our compatriots build step by step a developed, prosperous, sustainable, independent and sovereign Cuba with our own efforts and with the support of our friends, who are a large number.

In addition to finding updated and validated information about our country, in these infographics you will see the faces of ordinary Cubans, those who get up every morning to play their part in building a just and socialist society because that is the path they have chosen.

In the interest of time, I will only highlight some relevant information: Cuba ended the year 2017 with an infant mortality rate of 4.0 per thousand live births, the lowest rate ever recorded in its history. The average life expectancy at birth for Cubans is 78 years. All Cuban children are vaccinated at birth against 13 communicable diseases and priority is given to the early detection of congenital diseases. We are proud to have been the first country to receive validation from the World Health Organization for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and syphilis.

Cuba was the first country to sign and the second to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. We Cuban women have exactly the same rights as our male compatriots. The presence of women in the National Assembly of People’s Power, the Cuban Parliament, represents 53.22%, which places Cuba as the second parliament in the world with the largest female participation.

We are also proud to share our achievements in a spirit of solidarity and selflessness with those most in need. That is the reason why today we have 49,000 health workers providing services in 63 countries, to mention just one example. 

All of this has been achieved by the Cuban people despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government against our small island, of which every Cuban has a story to tell.

The blockade is an unjust and illegal policy that violates International Law and international trade rules, while contravening the purposes and principles of the United Nations itself and the will of the international community, clearly expressed and reiterated by the General Assembly.

We call upon that same international community and you, as its representatives, to vote on Wednesday, 31 October in the General Assembly Hall in favor of draft resolution A/73/L.3 to demand for the 27th consecutive time the lifting of the blockade, which constitutes the main obstacle to the development of Cuba and its economic relations with the rest of the world, including the United States itself.

Meanwhile, I invite you to enjoy and learn more through this exhibition how Cuba builds its future.

Thank you for standing with Cuba.

Good night.