The essence of Cuba's policy as regards human rights is based on the consensus reached in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, resulting from the World Conference on Human Rights held in 1993.

The central axis of Cuba's position in the topic is the recognition of the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights. On this basis, Cuba grants particular importance to the fact that human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, should be treated in a global form, in a fair and equal way, in an equal footing and giving the same importance to all.

At the same time, Cuba understands the universality in the diversity that presupposes the non existence of an unique model in the political, economic, social and cultural context. Cuba also understands the respect for national and regional particularities, as well as for the diverse historical, cultural and religious heritages.

In turn, Cuba promotes and defends the principles of objectivity, impartiality and non selectivity in the treatment of issues related to human rights, and the refusal to use them with political dominance purposes. In this sense, Cuba rejects the growing trend of countries in the North which seek to set them up as judges and censors of all that happens in countries in the South, while trying to hide the countless human rights violations that take place in their own territories plus others derived from the unjust international order they are imposing in their own benefit.

Cuba reaffirms the necessity of promoting a genuine international cooperation, based on dialogue and transparency, as the truly effective form to promote and to protect human rights in the entire world. By means of exerting pressures and imposing conditions it is impossible to achieve this objective.

The country has a steadfast and permanent commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. It has not only signed and ratified a number of international instruments as regards this issues, but it rather maintains a high level of cooperation with the international mechanisms of human rights universally applied and established on no discriminatory bases.

Likewise, Cuba maintains a high profile in the topic, participating actively and cohesively in the different forums of debate and international cooperation on the matter. Cuba also contributes with its positions and initiatives, to the progressive development of the international system of promotion and protection of all human rights for all.

In the year 2000, in the framework of the Human Rights Commission, Cuba presented 6 Draft Resolutions that were adopted by a wide majority, namely:

1.- Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination.

2.- The right to food.

3.- Effects of structural adjustment policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights and particularly economic, social and cultural rights.

4.- Composition of the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

5 – Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

6 – Human rights and unilateral coercive measures

During the 55th period of sessions of the General Assembly, 5 Draft Resolutions presented by Cuba were also approved:

1.- The use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination.

2.- Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and to the vital importance of family reunification.

3.- Strengthening United Nations actions in the fields of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and importance of non selectivity, impartiality and objectivity.

4.- Promotion of a democratic and equal International Order.

5.- Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of humanitarian character.