A/HRC/11/22* attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Nicaragua congratulated Cuba for its tireless struggle. 60. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic recognized the significant progress made in the field of human rights by Cuba for over 50 years, despite obstacles and challenges faced. It supported Cuba’s efforts to ensure people’s rights and enhance democratization and sovereignty. It recommended that Cuba continue to defend and promote initiatives in favour of developing countries, in particular those aimed at the full implementation of the right to development; maintain and strengthen the economic, political and social model freely chosen by the Cuban people, and continue to advance in strengthening participatory democracy as a genuine mechanism for the full participation of the population in public affairs; and share its experiences and good practices in the promotion and protection of the right to education, including the creation of conditions for free education at all levels. 61. Venezuela recognized the commitment of the Cuban Revolution to its struggle to achieve dignity for its people in the face of the oppression, the injustice, and the inhuman economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed for decades now by the United States empire, which gravely affects the enjoyment of the Cuban population’s fundamental rights. Venezuela attached special significance to Cuba’s struggle to eradicate poverty, exclusion and illiteracy. Referring to the “Yes I Can” literacy programme and “Operation Miracle” in the field of health, it commended Cuba’s help to millions of people from the poorest sectors of many countries. It recommended that Cuba continue with these enlightened initiatives; continue to share and extend its experiences and good practices in assisting vulnerable groups, especially through the implementation of the National Social Workers Programme, which provides assistance to communities and helps to identify needs; continue in the path towards the building of socialism, under the principles of solidarity and justice, making headway in the strengthening of participatory and proactive democracy, as a genuine mechanism to ensure citizen participation in public affairs. 62. Bolivia acknowledged the strong commitment of Cuba to human rights. Cuba has gone beyond its borders with the spirit of solidarity, despite suffering from a totally unjust economic blockade. It is thanks to the assistance of Cuba that Bolivia was declared by UNESCO the third Latin American country free from illiteracy. Furthermore Cuba’s solidarity programme for ophthalmological operations had restored the eyesight of more than one million people in 34 countries. Bolivia recommended that Cuba share its experiences and good practices in cooperation and international solidarity aimed at implementing the right to education, including the eradication of illiteracy, and in particular the application of the “Yes I Can” method; that it share its experiences and good practices in protecting the right to health, as implemented in its country through universal and free coverage for all, which includes access to medicine and the advances in Cuban scientific research; that it share its experiences and good practices in international cooperation aimed at implementing the right to health of millions of people, through initiatives such as the “Comprehensive Health Programme” and “Operation Miracle”, among others. 63. Bhutan commended Cuban Government’s tremendous achievements in the field of human rights, including the right to development, free quality education with universal coverage at all levels; effective delivery of free health care and services through an extensive and well developed National Health System; women’s full participation in all spheres of life; the promotion and preservation of Cuba’s rich cultural heritage and traditions. Bhutan commended the principles of cooperation and solidarity which, despite financial and resource constraints, run strong in the Cuban national spirit. Bhutan recommended that Cuba continue to share experiences and best practices in the promotion and protection of the rights to health and to education, with cooperation programmes that provide health professionals and technicians to developing countries, and education opportunities in Cuba for students from the developing world. Bhutan is encouraged by GE.09-16273 9