Geneva, Switzerland, July 9 (RHC)-- The United Nations independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, Obiora Okafor, today recognized the work of Cuban medical brigades in countries on several continents in the fight against COVID-19.

In an interactive dialogue within the framework of the 44th session of the Human Rights Council, he stressed in particular that the current scenario of affectations and death imposed by the pandemic demands international solidarity and cooperation as never before.

COVID-19 threatens human rights, including the rights to life, education and work, and demonstrates how interconnected human beings and societies are and the vulnerabilities they share.

Speaking at the forum, Cuban diplomat Jairo Rodríguez reaffirmed the commitment of the largest of the Antilles to international cooperation, which he described as "the only way to face this and other systemic crises."

Cooperation and solidarity are also basic pillars for the construction of a more just, democratic and equitable world order, he said.  

Rodríguez said at the Human Rights Council that Cuba has sent more than 40 medical brigades, made up of nearly 3,500 health professionals, to countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

On Monday, doctors and technicians from the island arrived in Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone, he said.

The diplomat said that the island will present a draft resolution with the main objective of renewing the mandate of the UN independent expert on human rights and international solidarity.