STATEMENT
4thrd UPR Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Cuba, as delivered by Mr Martin TORBERGSEN Minister Counsellor, Human Rights, Permanent Mission of Norway in Geneva.
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15 November 2023
Vice President,
Norway wecomes the delegation of Cuba an thanks it for the presentation of its report.
Norway commends Cuba for making important progress in the judicial protection of women, children and LGBTI+ persons in the new family code from 2022.
However, we remain concerned about the human rights situation in general, and civil and political rights in particular.
Norway recommends that Cuba;
- ratify the ICCPR and the ICESCR without reservations;
- create a safe and enabling environment for civil society,
human right defenders and independent journalists; - refrain from using the new Penal Code to criminalize civil society actors and individual voices critical of the authorities;
- ratify the second Optional Protocol of the ICCPR aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
I Thank you.