Cuba garnered another important victory Today in Geneva following the approval by the UN Human Rights Council of a resolution on unilateral coercive measures.

Cuban representative in Geneva, Respel Pino Alvarez, tabled the motion on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The resolution urges states to cease the implementation of coercive measures, foreign to international law, particularly those with extraterritorial character, which have a negative impact on cooperation relations among the nations and on the full enjoyment of human rights.  

The document condemns the use of political and economic measures against other nations, particularly against Third World countries, since they hinder the right to development.

Cuba called on the states that have implemented coercive measures to abide by the UN Charter and honor their international obligations.

The resolution was voted by 33 nations in favor and 11 against; three countries abstained. Votes in favor included: Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Chile, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mauritania, México, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Filipinas, Qatar, the Russian Federation Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Uruguay y Zambia.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Holland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ucraine and Britain voted against, while  there were abstentions included Bosnia-Herzegovina, Madagascar and South Korea.