UNITED NATIONS.—The decision made by the UN
General Assembly to reelect Cuba to the Human Rights
Council (HRC) for a three-year period, is a solid
recognition of work undertaken by the country in
this context, according to Anayansi Rodríguez, Cuban
ambassador to international organizations based in
Geneva.
She affirmed to Granma that the country
has defended within this body the principles of the
nations of the South and rejected double standards
and attempts at political manipulation.
Rodríguez stated that the UN decision came a few
months after Cuba successfully completed the HRC
Universal Periodic Review, which assesses countries’
economic, social, cultural, civil and political
rights.
The HRC was created by the UN in 2006 to replace
the discredited Commission of the same name. At that
time, Cuba was elected as one of the first member
countries and remained on the Council through 2006,
for the two consecutive periods established. The
country will begin its new three-year period in
January 2014.
In a press note, the Cuban Permanent Mission to
the UN also stated that Cuba will continue working
on the promotion of the rights of peoples to self-determination,
peace and development; toward a democratic and
equitable international order; and against racism,
xenophobia and all forms of discrimination.
By absolute majority and through a direct and
secret vote, the UN General Assembly elected 14 new
members to the Human Rights Council: Latin America
(Cuba and Mexico), Eastern Europe (Russia and
Macedonia), Western Europe (France and the United
Kingdom), Asia-Pacific (China, Vietnam, the Maldives
and Saudi Arabia), and Africa (Algeria, Morocco,
South Africa and Namibia).
