Statement by the Cuban UN Association on the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons
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The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolution 68/192, decided "to declare July 30 as World Day against Trafficking in Persons, in view of the need to raise awareness of the situation of victims of trafficking in persons and to promote and protect their rights". This resolution calls on different actors, including civil society, to celebrate this date.
The Cuban Association of the United Nations (ACNU), a Cuban civil society organization that brings together 142 collective members and more than 320 individual members, also united in the defense of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of International Law, joins this commemoration that aims to make visible and confront one of the most serious problems facing the international community. As recognized in the aforementioned resolution, "trafficking in persons, especially women and children, constitutes a crime and a serious threat to the dignity and physical integrity of persons, human rights and development".
Despite calls to eradicate this scourge, the conditions that contribute to its development remain in place and are worsening. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and brought to the forefront systemic economic and social inequalities at different levels, which are among the underlying causes of human trafficking. The prevailing unjust international economic order, crises of various kinds, wars, conflicts and climate change are also among the causes that make it possible. The Cuban Association of the United Nations joins the global campaign against human trafficking 2023, whose theme is "Reaching all victims of trafficking, leaving no one behind". It reaffirms that combating this scourge contributes to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals, which also call for eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, combating organized crime and eradicating forced labor, abuse, exploitation and violence suffered by children.
The ACNU, along with other Cuban civil society organizations, actively participates in the design and implementation of public policies that reinforce the prevention and confrontation of human trafficking and related crimes. In this context, its participation in the updating of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Confrontation of Human Trafficking and the Protection of Victims (2022-2024), a key tool in the coordinated action between the State and Cuban civil society organizations to address this serious crime, is noteworthy.
ACNU recognizes and supports the national policy of "Zero Tolerance" to any form of human trafficking, in full compliance with the letter and spirit of the United Nations resolutions on this matter. It also welcomes the country's excellent performance in preventing, combating and protecting victims, as endorsed by the United Nations and other international organizations.
Cuba has also earned prestige in this regard, as a result of the combined action of the different national actors, including civil society organizations. That is why we reject, denounce and condemn the political blunders of the U.S. administration that seek to discredit it on this sensitive issue. Therefore, the shameless and farcical references to our country contained in the latest Annual Report on Trafficking in Persons of the United States government are not surprising, as they are part of the hybrid war being waged against the Cuban nation, and demonstrate once again the desperate and futile attempt by the US administration to undermine the support and moral authority that Cuba, its population, its institutions and civil society organizations enjoy at the international level.
The ACNU, in ratifying its commitment to continue fighting this scourge and supporting the Zero Tolerance policy at the national level, joins the call of the United Nations to the international community to evaluate and improve efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims, and put an end to impunity.
Havana, July 30, 2023
(Source: ACN)
