United Nations, March 21 (RHC)-- The Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez, has advocated for a world free from racism and where full equality of rights for all is respected, which even today is so distant.

"Cubans are proud of the diverse origin of our nation, to which many people contributed," Rodriguez said in her message on occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

All this is also expressed in the political will of the Cuban State and Government in its fight against any manifestation of racism and intolerance, the execution of an economic and social policy that does not discriminate against anyone and the international solidarity of the island, she said.

Although 17 years have passed since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programm of Action, its full implementation remains a pending issue on the road to the enjoyment of full equality of rights, Rodríguez said.

Cuba's ambassador to the United Nations acknowledged that the effective implementation of that agreement is a challenge and a moral obligation in order to resolve the serious situations regarding discrimination.

And she warned that the manifestations of racism and xenophobia, far from diminishing, are growing.  In addition, the debt contracted with the millions of victims of these abominable practices throughout history has yet to be paid.

The UN diplomat highlighted Cuba's commitment to fight racial discrimination, which is expressed in a broadly participatory democracy in which everyone enjoys the same rights, regardless of origin, color of skin, creed or political opinion.

In 1966, the UN General Assembly established March 21st as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, commemorating the date when the Sharpeville Massacre occurred at the hands of the police against those who protested against an Apartheid law that restricted the movement of Blacks.