The voice of Cuban writers and artists reached the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on Friday morning, taking place between September 7 and October 7 in Geneva, Switzerland, to denounce the impact of the United States’ hostile policy against Cuba.
Marta Bonet de la Cruz, president of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), spoke during the closing session of Agenda Item 3, which assessed the promotion and protection of all civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as those related to development.
Before a plenary session composed of diplomats, experts, and representatives of organizations from around the world, Bonet de la Cruz spoke about the negative effects that the United States’ economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba, as well as the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the world power against the small Caribbean island, have on all sectors, especially culture and artistic creation.
Given their importance, we share in full the words of the intellectual and director before the CDDHH and the international community:
“Mr. President:
“I represent a Cuban civil society organization that brings together nearly eight thousand writers and artists of diverse generations and styles, united by the free exercise of creative expression. United in the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, we are standard-bearers of avant-garde art, rooted in popular traditions, the artistic heritage bequeathed to us, and in constant dialogue with the work of colleagues from around the world.
“Cuba faces a harsh economic and financial blockade imposed by the United States government, which has just been identified as the primary cause of suffering for our people by the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures.
“Cuban art, literature, heritage, and our artists also suffer severe consequences that affect free artistic creation and education, cultural programming, the preservation of our heritage, and open dialogue with colleagues around the world. We are denied the right to engage in cultural and academic exchanges with Americans. And we are prevented from developing our artistic industry naturally.
“Access to universal and free education and culture are rights that our people have enjoyed since the revolutionary triumph of 1959. Culture must remain the heritage of the people. The blockade and energy embargo imposed on us by the U.S. government must end. Cuban art and literature, internationally recognized, and our artists have as much right to freedom of expression as they do to life.”
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
