Individual and collective members of the ACNU, representatives of networks, movements and social stockholders, as well as Cuban sports figures met to evaluate, from their fields of action and experience, the country’s progress in this matter, but also to identify the challenges and obstacles in the promotion and realization of all rights for all people.

The dialogue took place as part of Cuba’s preparation to participate in a new universal periodic review at the Human Rights Council, said ACNU President Norma Goicochea, who assured that Cuba has a lot to teach in this sphere, although work must continue.

“Civil society is committed to the defense, protection, and safeguarding of the human rights of all, and to accompany the State in the elaboration of public policies and their implementation,” Goicochea said at the presentation of the event.

She commented that this will be a respectful exchange where experiences, both rural and from academia and community work, which are important for the implementation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, will be taken into account.

Goicochea pointed out that the debate will obviously delve into the devastating impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States on Cuban families, which is a systematic, arbitrary, criminal and unjust violation of the human rights of the entire Cuban population.

In the same way, she added, they will address cross-cutting issues such as those related to equality and non-discrimination, the rights of individuals and specific groups such as women, the elderly, children and people with disabilities, among others.

The meeting was structured into two commissions, one is dedicated to the promotion and protection of civil and political rights in Cuba: The realization of the rights to life, liberty and security of a person, administration of justice, right to information, right to participate in public and political life, right to privacy, family life and home. The other one deals with the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights: The realization of the right to work, social security, health, education, culture, food, a healthy environment and a level of adequate life.

The dialogue must make recommendations to the State and the institutions on the way in which work should continue, the president of the ACNU specified. Likewise, they will send their contributions on the subject to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“We are sure that it will contribute to alliances among all and to identify the way to continue making a more supportive, more humanistic, fairer homeland, in building a more independent, sovereign and socialist nation,” she remarked.

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