Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis took a stand on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, denouncing the human rights violations perpetrated by the Cuban regime. She urged member nations to support the United States in holding Havana accountable for its actions.
Malliotakis participated in the event titled "Free Cuba: The Oppression Hidden by Havana," organized by the U.S. Permanent Mission to the UN. Led by Ambassador Mike Waltz, the gathering brought together former political prisoners, activists, and Cuban researchers to reveal to the international community the harsh realities that the regime seeks to conceal.
"I want to extend my gratitude to Ambassador Waltz for assembling this group because it's incredibly crucial that the world understands the truth about the Cuban government's oppression and hostilities," the congresswoman stated at the beginning of her remarks.
As the daughter of a Cuban mother who fled the island in 1959 following Fidel Castro's rise to power, Malliotakis shared a personal story about her family's permanent division. Her mother, grandmother, and aunt managed to reach the United States, while her grandfather remained behind.
"The government came and took, stole that business and their home. And they never saw each other again. This is what the Castro regime did to so many families: not just stealing from them and oppressing them, but tearing them apart so they would never meet again, ruining lives, countless lives," she asserted.
The congresswoman highlighted the plight of those who stayed in Cuba, facing imprisonment, beatings, starvation, and, in some cases, death at the hands of their own government. She referenced panelists in attendance, including former political prisoners José Daniel Ferrer and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, the latter having been released after nearly five years in prison and leaving Cuba in July 2026.
"No government has the right to torture its people, to starve them, especially when the government lives in luxury while its citizens die of hunger," Malliotakis emphasized.
A poignant aspect of her speech was her criticism of Cuba's presence on the UN Human Rights Council, where the regime has been a member for six consecutive terms despite having one of the worst records globally in this regard.
"For six terms, this communist regime has been allowed a seat on the Human Rights Council, despite having one of the most atrocious records. I believe it's a tragedy, and it is a tragedy this institution must address," she remarked.
The event took place just days before the annual General Assembly vote on the Cuban resolution condemning the U.S. embargo, scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2026. Over 554 Cuban activists and organizations have called on democratic governments to vote against or abstain.
The Cuban regime attempted to obstruct the gathering at all costs. Its permanent representative to the UN, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, labeled it a "politically motivated maneuver" and claimed it violated the organization's internal regulations.
On the day of the event, Cuban diplomats staged a protest in the hallways of the UN headquarters, shouting "terrorists" and "get out of the UN" at the participants.
Waltz responded bluntly: if the Cuban government was troubled by the allegations, it should cease its repression of the Cuban people.
This is not the first time Malliotakis has taken a strong stance against Havana. In January 2026, she stated that "the Cuban communist regime must disappear," and in February, she co-signed a letter with other Cuban-American congress members urging the Department of Justice to formally indict Raúl Castro for the 1996 downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes.
"I hope all of you will join the United States in defending a free Cuba, a Cuba that can choose its own government through free and fair elections, with freedom of the press, speech, and assembly," the congresswoman concluded before the delegates gathered at the UN headquarters.
Understanding the Impact of US-Cuba Relations
What did Nicole Malliotakis highlight about the Cuban regime at the UN?
Nicole Malliotakis condemned the Cuban regime's human rights violations and urged international accountability for Havana's actions.
Why did Malliotakis criticize Cuba's membership in the UN Human Rights Council?
Malliotakis criticized Cuba's presence on the council due to the regime's poor human rights record, which she considers a serious issue that needs correction.
What personal experience did Malliotakis share about her family's history with Cuba?
She shared that her mother fled Cuba in 1959, leaving her grandfather behind, and how the regime's actions tore her family apart permanently.