Cuban medical personnel are in the front line in the most critical moments of places, from the attention to earthquakes, the fight against Ebola in Africa; the covid in Europe.... These men and women have shown that humanism is not only an ideal, but a living practice.
This was stated by Mr. Stefano Vescovi, Ambassador of Switzerland in Cuba, during the ceremony for the creation of the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law (Conadih), an act presided over by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
With the creation of Conadih, Cuba "ratifies its commitment with the humanitarian traditions inherited from its revolutionary process; as well as with the defense of International Law and the United Nations Charter, with the certainty that it will always defend peace and oppose the use or threat of force against any State", it was stated in the constitution of this technical advisory body.
Prior to the reading of the Presidential Decree establishing the creation of the body in the country, and as representative of the depositary State of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, Ambassador Vescovi underscored Cuba's long history of solidarity.
We live - Vescovi pointed out - in a world full of darkness and suffering, and the Red Cross is present where it is most needed. He cited Gaza, "where the humanitarian crisis has reached inhuman levels", the front line between Russia and Ukraine, in internal conflicts such as Syria, where the Red Crescent provides all its help; in Colombia and in other conflict zones.
Dr. Tania Margarita Cruz Hernández, Acting Minister of Public Health, spoke on behalf of the presidency of the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law, made up of ten ministries and bodies of the Cuban government.
Conadih's responsibilities are to advise State and Government institutions on matters within its competence; to make recommendations to harmonize national legislation with international commitments in this area; to coordinate government efforts to disseminate and promote knowledge of international humanitarian law; and to establish exchanges and cooperation with similar entities and institutions in other countries.
"We are not starting from zero -she added-. In our country we were already working in complete harmony and coordination among the relevant agencies, mainly the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Health, the Cuban Red Cross, among others".
"This - she added - is not the conclusion of a process, but the beginning of a new stage in cooperation, which will continue to contribute to the development of the excellent relations between Cuba and the International Committee of the Red Cross".
The official reiterated the solidarity of the Cuban State and Government with the Palestinian people and denounced the flagrant and sustained violation of International Law, International Humanitarian Law and the human rights of that brotherly people.
In closing her remarks, the acting minister of Minsap reiterated, based on the humanitarian traditions of the Cuban people and on behalf of the institutions that will integrate Conadih, Cuba's commitment to the strengthening and defense of International Humanitarian Law.
