The National Centre for Sexual Education (CENESEX) and the Cuban Multidisciplinary Society for the Study of Sexuality (SOCUMES) have been aware of the vote of the Cuban delegation to the Third Committee of UN General Assembly in support of the amendment which removed the explicitly mention of “sexual orientation” at the periodic resolution condemning the extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions.
Although, at the passed amendment, our country expresses its condemnation to “discriminatory reasons whatever their basis”, in practical terms it is aligned to the vote supported by the group of countries that include homosexuality as a crime under their laws, including the application of the death penalty in five of them, based on those grounds.
SOCUMES and CENESEX confirm that in Cuba there is no legislation that criminalizes sexual orientation or gender identity and will continue working on the implementation of the National Sexual Education Program, which advocates respect for sexual orientation and gender identity as an inalienable right of every person.
We also reiterate our readiness to continue to provide a framework for our policy makers, based on scientific research, education and dialogue, which will address the further recognition of sexual rights as human rights, in correspondence with the support provided by Cuba on 18 December 2008 to the Declaration of the UN General Assembly on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Havana, 24November 2010.
Mariela Castro Espin
Director CENESEX
President of SOCUMES
Sección Diversidad Sexual
Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual
Cuba