North & Central America and Caribbean

Cuba
Last reviewed: 10 July 2008

Country information

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POLITICS

HUMAN RIGHTS

Cuba's record on civil and political rights falls well below accepted international standards. Freedom of expression, information and association are denied. All opposition parties are prohibited. Of particular concern are the high numbers of political prisoners (some estimates indicate that nearly 300 remain in jail) and increasing government-sponsored acts of violence/intimidation against dissidents. In July 2005 the Cuban authorities suppressed peaceful demonstrations, arresting 33 demonstrators, and in April 2003, 75 Cuban dissidents were sentenced to up to 28 years in jail. Some of these prisoners have been released, but many remain in jail – often without trial and suffering from serious health problems. The Cuban Government continues to arrest other civil society figures. In 2003, Cuba also broke a 3-year moratorium on executions by imposing the death penalty on 3 Cubans who had tried to hijack a ferry to Miami. On 28 April 2008 President Raúl Castro announced that all but three death sentences would be commuted to life or 30 years imprisonment, but that the death penalty would still be used in terrorism cases.

UK government ministers and officials continue to raise concerns about human rights with the Cuban authorities. On 4th April 2008, FCO Minister Meg Munn expressed concern about political prisoners and other human rights issues during a meeting with Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Eumelio Caballero. The EU continues carefully to evaluate its relations with Cuba to ensure a measured and proportionate response to Cuban actions.

Cuba has ratified 4 of the 6 UN human rights instruments. They are:

International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD (1972));
Convention Against Torture (CAT (1995));
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC (1991)). [In 2000, Cuba signed the Optional Protocols to CRC on i) Child Soldiers and ii) the Sale of Children and Child Prostitution];
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women CEDAW (1980). (In 2000, Cuba also signed the Optional Protocol to CEDAW – Right of individual petition to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women).

Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in New York on 28 February 2008. Cuba still has to ratify the covenants and implement the human rights enshrined by them.

In February 1999, a Cuban National Assembly extraordinary session approved a law to 'Protect the Independence and Economy of Cuba' from US aggression. This provides for prison sentences (depending on the offence) of up to 30 years and fines of US$5,000 for those found guilty of collaborating with the 'constant economic, political, diplomatic, propaganda and ideological war against our nation'. The new legislation raised international concern.

The early years of the Revolution saw a period of religious intolerance. Though the situation has improved, religious activities are still tightly controlled. In 2005, the government introduced legislation directing all house churches to register with the authorities. Catholicism was never as strong in Cuba as in the majority of Latin American countries, and Protestant churches are now seeing increasing membership. But, even so, the Catholic Church is seen as one of the few non-State organisations with limited national influence. The Pope made his first visit to Cuba in 1998, when he called on Cuba to open up to the world and the world to Cuba. The Cuban Government offered Christmas as a permanent public holiday in 1998 and there were other forward moves in Church/State relations. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, visited Cuba in February 2008 for the tenth anniversary of the Pope’s visit. Many Cubans also practise Santería, which has its origins in African religions (particularly Yoruba) brought to Cuba during the slave trade, when it synchronised with Catholicism.

There is some civil society activism in Cuba. In May 2002 the Varela Project, calling for a referendum under the Cuban constitution on civil and political freedoms, was presented to the Cuban parliament. Oswaldo Payá, author of the project, visited the UK in January 2003 and met the former FCO Minister responsible for Human Rights, Bill Rammell. Varela attracted support from those inside and outside Cuba who wish to see peaceful change to a democratic system of government; EU Heads of Government issued a statement in support of it in June 2002. Oswaldo Payá was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov prize for freedom of thought in 2002. Payá has continued to collect signatures for the Varela project (there are now more than 35,000). In December 2005, the UK Government invited Payá to the UK to undertake a programme of visits and to speak at the EU-NGO forum on Freedom of Expression in London, but he was unable to travel because the Cuban authorities denied him an exit visa.

In May 2006, Payá published his proposal for a new constitution, which included greater freedoms for Cuban people. This document was based on the results of his ‘Todos Cubanos’ programme, an initiative that involved consultation with thousands of Cuban citizens.

The Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) are another important civil society group in Cuba. These wives and family members of political prisoners hold peaceful vigils and marches for the release of their relatives. The Damas de Blanco were awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in December 2005. They were not permitted by the Cuban Government to travel to collect their award. In October 2006, the Damas de Blanco were honoured with another award- the Human Rights First Prize for 2006.

Most recently, a wide group of key opposition figures, including Oswaldo Paya, Damas de Blanco and Martha Beatriz Roque, have formed an alliance known as "Unidad por la Libertad", which recognises their common objectives:

To achieve respect for all human rights for Cuban people;
To jointly demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners;
To encourage co-operation and participation of all citizens and;
To use and promote peaceful means to achieve these objectives

This is a positive development, indicating a more united and organised approach from the Cuban opposition.