Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The representative from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Doctor José Juan Ortiz, reaffirmed today that Cuba is a model in the putting into practice of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Ortiz told ACN that children’s rights are a political priority in Cuba. In spite of the US economic blockade imposed over the island for more than 50 years, all Cuban children go to school and receive health services for free. He compared Cuba with other countries, where many children do not go to school, and are victims of labor exploitation, among many other violations of their rights.
Ortiz praised Cuba’s achievements in decreasing its mortality rates. Last year, Cuba registered a mortality rate of 4.5 per 1000 live births, the lowest in its history, which locates it among the top nations with the lowest rates. He stated that, regardless of economic limitations, Cuba has a life expectancy of 78 years, given the social development guaranteed by the political will of the government and a system that prioritizes the state of rights.
The UNICEF representative mentioned Cuba’s achievements, with the highest development rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, up to the standards of first world countries.
Ortiz participated, along with national specialists and guests from Canada and Spain, at the 2nd International Workshop on Quality of Life in Pain, Pediatric Pain and its Rehabilitation, in session until January 21, in Havana.
He offered a lecture on the right to health assistance and the treatment of pain, not only physical but also psychoemotional, which is caused by the violation of rights generating emotional dissatisfaction and therefore, pain. He talked about social pain caused by injustice; imbalances within an unfair, economic, political and social order, which brings about serious violations of childhood rights.
