Cuba ratifies commitment to Unesco’s peace and development efforts

In the voice of its permanent representative, Yahima Esquivel, Cuba on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to Unesco's values and mandate in the pursuit of peace and the promotion of sustainable development.

On the 75th anniversary of Cuba’s membership in Unesco, we renew that commitment and will continue defending its multilateral and intergovernmental nature, as well as its founding values and principles, which are fully valid to face the current global challenges, she said in this capital.

Speaking at the 215th Session of the Executive Council of the organization, the Cuban diplomat highlighted the decades of uninterrupted cooperation and support from the UN multilateral agency specialized in education, science, and culture in a considerable number of development programs in these areas of competence.

We have worked together to eradicate illiteracy in the world; promoting education as a fundamental human right.

It has allowed us to promote development and access to scientific progress as a public good at the service of humanity and to face global emergencies such as the Ebola pandemic or, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic with solidarity, Esquivel noted.

She also mentioned at Tuesday’s plenary session Cuba’s participation in the organization’s response to challenges ranging from the digital divide, Internet governance, and ethics in artificial intelligence to the right of access to information, and the safeguarding of heritage and cultural diversity.

A recent example is the Transcultural Program, a project aimed at creating a regional training center in arts and crafts that benefits young people from the Caribbean and Latin America, promoting inclusion and social transformation through culture, she added.

According to Esquivel, Unesco’s presence and closeness in the field have been fundamental in this shared path.

Cuba is honored to have in Havana the first office that Unesco established outside its headquarters, a mission approved by the General Conference in 1948, she pointed out.

The diplomat took advantage of her speech to express gratitude, on behalf of the Cuban Government and people, for the expressions of solidarity received after Hurricane Ian hit the western part of the country in late September, causing severe damage.

We thank Unesco for its timely response and its willingness to assist in the recovery, she stressed at the Executive Council.