CDHR Urges UN Members To Back End To US Blockade Against Cuba
By Bukar BOLORI
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged United Nations member states to support efforts to end the longstanding United States economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, warning of its reported consequences for the fundamental rights and welfare of ordinary citizens.
The call comes ahead of a United Nations General Assembly vote scheduled for October 28 on the question of ending the restrictions, which the Nigerian human rights organisation said had raised serious humanitarian and socioeconomic concerns.
In a statement on Monday, signed by its National President, Comrade ‘Yinka Folarin, and National Secretary, Comrade Idris Afees, CDHR expressed solidarity with the Cuban government and people, drawing attention to Cuba’s report covering March 2025 to February 2026, which documented the reported effects of the blockade on access to essential goods and services.
The organisation said the restrictions had implications for the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, adequate living standards and development.
According to CDHR, economic and financial restrictions should not impose disproportionate hardship on ordinary people or undermine their ability to access basic necessities.
It maintained that the protection of human dignity must remain central to international relations and the resolution of disputes between countries.
The organisation said the question of the blockade extended beyond diplomatic disagreements between Washington and Havana, raising broader concerns about the responsibility of the international community to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter, international cooperation and respect for human rights.
It noted that the UN General Assembly had repeatedly considered the need to end the embargo against Cuba, urging member states to give serious consideration to the humanitarian concerns outlined in the latest report.
CDHR also called on the United States and Cuba to pursue constructive dialogue and peaceful diplomatic engagement towards removing the restrictions and improving living conditions for the Cuban people.
It urged the United Nations and relevant international institutions to give adequate attention to the human rights implications of economic, commercial and financial restrictions in international decision-making.
“The rights and welfare of ordinary people must not be overlooked in the pursuit of political or diplomatic objectives,” the organisation said.
Reaffirming its solidarity with Cuba, CDHR said its position reflected the conviction that human rights were universal and indivisible, irrespective of nationality, political system or geographical location.
As the October 28 vote approaches, the organisation urged UN member states to consider the broader implications of the blockade for international cooperation, sustainable development and the protection of fundamental human rights.
The organisation stressed that international disputes should be resolved through dialogue, cooperation and peaceful engagement, with the protection of human life and welfare at the centre of decisions.
