Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo (2nd L) reacts during the "Jailed for What?" campaign, at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 16, 2018. A United States-sponsored campaign aimed at criticizing the human rights situation in Cuba on Tuesday encountered strong and fierce protest at the UN. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
HAVANA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cuba on Tuesday rejected a human rights "defamatory" campaign staged in an event held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters to denounce the situation of alleged political prisoners in the island country.
In a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this new action is part of a "sequence of declarations" by U.S. high-ranking officials, which shows the "growing hostility" towards Cuba by the Trump administration.
Washington on Tuesday held an event at the UN Economic and Social Council to condemn the alleged jailing of politicians on the island and invited several speakers, including Secretary-General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro.
"The U.S. government has no moral authority to criticize Cuba," said the statement.
The "political show" comes just two weeks before the UN General Assembly votes on the resolution to end the nearly six-decade-long U.S. economic embargo on the Caribbean nation, it said.
"This type of action seeks to make up pretexts to maintain and intensify the blockade, which constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights of Cuban men, women and children," said the statement.
On Oct. 31, Havana will present for the 27th time before the UN General Assembly a non-binding resolution condemning the unilateral embargo policy.
Instead of worrying about alleged political prisoners in Cuba, the foreign ministry said, Washington should care about the constant violations of human rights on U.S. territory.
The U.S. government has a growing number of problems regarding human rights like its "elite" electoral system, mounting poverty, racial discrimination, hate crimes, lack of universal healthcare for its citizens, among others, it said.
"While the United States turns its back on UN human rights mechanisms, Cuba maintains a high level of activity and cooperation, earning respect in those organizations and among member states," said the statement.
