The president of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization (UN), Trinidadian Dennis Francis, arrived in Cuba this Thursday for an official visit that will conclude on June 29.
According to state media WorkersThe purpose of the visit is to “review the country’s progress and contribution to multilateralism, cooperation, ongoing regional and global challenges.”
The diplomat, who was received at the José Martí International Airport by the acting director of Multilateral Affairs and International Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ana Silvia Rodríguez, added that his visit is part of the organization’s agenda to also examine Cuba’s continued active engagement as a member state in the United Nations.
The UN has questioned the Cuban regime on several occasions for its practices that violate human rights. humans, which go against several articles of the Declaration of Human Rights of which it is a signatory.
At the beginning of June, Six rapporteurs of the organization asked Havana for explanations for systemic violations of due process in judicial proceedings against people imprisoned for political reasons, and questioned the lack of independent lawyers in Cuba, the deprivation of liberty without judicial protection, the dependence of prosecutors and judges on political power, the State’s experts and witnesses as the only source of accusation, the criminalization of the exercise of fundamental rights, military courts and summary cases.
Starting 2024, The UN again called out the regime for the persistence of violations of the rights of workers exported by Havanaespecially doctors sent on “internationalist missions.”
It is to be expected that the president of the General Assembly will address these issues with Miguel Díaz-Canel and with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrillawith whom he plans to meet, as part of his agenda in Cuba.
In accordance with WorkersDennis Francis also plans to hold exchanges with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichón, and other members of the organization’s Country Team on the island, as well as with representatives of the pro-government Federation of Cuban Women (FMC).
The agenda also includes a keynote lecture at the Aula Magna of the University of Havana on the topic of Cuba and multilateralism: opportunities and challenges, with the participation of government officials, members of the diplomatic community, youth representatives, women leaders and academics.
