Life in Cuba
Art
Cinema
Cuisine
Culture
Demographics
Education
Health
Holidays
Human Rights
Literature
Music
Politics
Religion
Tourism

Human rights in Cuba are a subject of much debate. While Cuba is a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its constitution has a section outlining the "fundamental rights, duties and guarantees" of the Cuban people, ^[1] its communist government, which has been led by Fidel Castro since the Cuban Revolution, has been accused of numerous human rights violations (like the non-communist government that preceded it). Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Shortcut: WP:NPOVD Articles that have been linked to this page are the subject of an NPOV dispute (NPOV stands for Neutral Point Of View; see below). ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 96 KB) Photograph by Dirk van der Made (user:DirkvdM). ... Cuban Art is a diverse cultural blend of African, European and North American visual design reflecting the diverse demographic of the island. ... Cuban cuisine is the fusion of Spanish and Caribbean cuisines. ... The culture of Cuba is a complex mixture of different, often contrasting, factors and influences. ... Demographics of Cuba, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ... Categories: Cuba | Public holidays by country ... Human rights in Cuba are a subject of much debate. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Caribbean island of Cuba has been influential in the development of multiple musical styles in the 19th and 20th centuries. ... Politics of Cuba take place within a framework of a socialist republic. ... Palm tree at a Cuban beach resort Tourism in Cuba attracts over 2 million visitors a year, and is one of the main sources of revenue for the island. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Eleanor Roosevelt with the Spanish version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ... This article is about a form of government in which the state operates under the control of a Communist Party. ... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... The Cuban Revolution refers to the revolution that led to the overthrow of General Fulgencio Batistas regime on January 1, 1959 by the 26th of July Movement and other revolutionary elements within the country. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

History

Since the earliest days of Spanish colonization, human rights in Cuba have been an issue of concern. The oppression of the indigenous populations was chronicled at length by clergyman Bartolomé de las Casas. The subsequent transportation of African slaves to the island, which lasted over 300 years, led to British military intervention and a determination "to put a stop to these abuses".^[2] Since Cuba achieved independence in 1902, successive Cuban governments have been criticised and condemned by various groups, both within Cuba and internationally, for human rights violations on the island. Cubas once-ambitious foreign policy has been scaled back and redirected as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. ... Cuban relations with Peoples Republic of China are based on trade, credits, and investments which have increased significantly since the 1990s. ... Following the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union after the Cuban revolution of 1959, Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military aid becoming an ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. ... Cuba and the United States of America have had a mutual interest in one another since well before either of their independence movements. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Bartolomé de las Casas This article is about a Spanish priest in the 16th century. ...

During the latter part of the Spanish colonial era in Cuba, human rights on the island became a particular international concern. After a visit to the region in 1898, U.S. Senator Redfield Proctor estimated that that up to 200,000 Cubans had died from starvation and disease within "Spanish forts", essentially concentration camps.^[3] The concern was a contributory factor in garnering support for the Spanish-American war in the U.S. The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Redfield Proctor (June 1, 1831–March 4, 1908) was an American politician in the Republican Party. ... General Valeriano Weyler Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, marqués de Tenerife (17 September 1838 - 20 October 1930) was a Spanish soldier. ... A concentration camp is a large detention centre created for political opponents, aliens, specific ethnic or religious groups, civilians of a critical war-zone, or other groups of people, often during a war. ... Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Arsenio Linares Ramón Blanco Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties...

After independence, and following a sustained period of instability, the 1924-33 government of Gerardo Machado proved to be authoritarian. Machado extended his rule until a student led uprising deposed him in 1933. The post-Machado period was marked by violent reprisals, mass lynchings and a deterioration towards extreme corruption and gansterismo throughout the island.^[4] Gerardo Machado, Time, 1933 Gerardo Machado (y Morales) (28 September 1871, Camajani – 29 March 1939, Miami Beach, Florida) was a Cuban general of Cuban War of Independence and the 5th president of Cuba. ...

General Fulgencio Batista, the man who ousted Machado, went on to govern the island periodically, as de facto leader and President, for twenty-six years, his authoritarian rule becoming the subject of further concern.^[5] General Rubén Fulgencio Batista (IPA: , ) y Zaldívar (January 16, 1901 – August 6, 1973) was a Cuban military officer and politician. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... This page contains a list of presidents of Cuba. ...

Picture of Gerardo Machado on the cover of Time Magazine titled "Dictator of Cuba"

Batista's second spell as President that was marked by increasing intolerance of dissent. Even some of Batista's supporters expressed concern when, in an effort to combat Castro's forces, police officers were given license to kill those suspected of organizing a general strike in April 1958. ^[6] The torture and murders of civilians including two young sisters in Havana outraged the public, as did the activities of the CIA-funded Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities (BRAC), which had become unpopular in the U.S. (indeed, the then CIA general director complained). ^[7] Image File history File links This image is of a scan of a magazine cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the magazine or the individual contributors who worked on the cover depicted. ... Image File history File links This image is of a scan of a magazine cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the magazine or the individual contributors who worked on the cover depicted. ... Gerardo Machado, Time, 1933 Gerardo Machado (y Morales) (28 September 1871, Camajani – 29 March 1939, Miami Beach, Florida) was a Cuban general of Cuban War of Independence and the 5th president of Cuba. ... (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ...

In 1959, Fidel Castro and his forces succeeded in displacing Batista from power. His spell as Prime Minister began with a ruthless crackdown on any signs of dissent. In the immediate aftermath of Batista's downfall, the revolutionaries held numerous trials without due process. These show trials would often culminate in the summary execution of the accused by the infamous paredones ^[8][9] the suspension of habeas corpus and the executions of suspected Batista co-conspirators.^[10] Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... For other uses, see Habeas corpus (disambiguation). ...

The "Cuban National Reconciliation movement", a U.S.-based organisation that aims to act as a forum for discussing Cuban society, has detailed what it believes are complex variables when analysing human rights immediately after the revolution. In the 1960s, violent confrontations known as the War Against the Bandits between the Cuban government and armed opposition were ongoing, but had declined by the early 1970s. The group asserts that by the time international human rights movements flourished in the 1970s, the most severe period of repression was over, making non-partisan retrospective assessments of the period difficult. The reconciliation movement also cite the difficulties in assessing accounts of abuses that are commonly split upon partisan lines. According to the group, Cuban exiles who were often the first to denounce the Cuban government, largely shared an anti-Communist ideology and overlooked violations committed by other regimes, whilst many left leaning observers did not give the claims of Cuban victims due consideration.^[11] The War Against the Bandits was a rebellion against the Communist government of Fidel Castro, mainly by peasants, small farmers and former landowners in the central provinces of Cuba and the Escambray Mountains. ... The term Cuban exile usually refers to the large exodus of Cubans since the 1959 Cuban Revolution and in particular the wave of Cuban American refugees to the U.S. during the years 1960 and 1979, who sought greater political and economic freedom. ...

Political persecution

Various estimates have been made to ascertain the number of political executions carried out on behalf of the Cuban Government in Cuba since the revolution. Latin American historian Thomas E Skidmore, assessed that there had been 550 executions in the first six months of 1959.^[12] Among those executed were former Batista regime officials and members of the Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities (Buró de Represión de Actividades Comunistas; a unit of the secret police know by its Spanish acronym BRAC).^[13][14] British historian Hugh Thomas, in his extensive study Cuba or the pursuit of freedom^[15] alleged that "perhaps" 5,000 executions had taken place by 1970,^[12] whilst The World Handbook of Political and Social Indicators assertained that there had been 2,113 political executions between the years of 1958-67.^[12] Hugh Thomas, Baron Thomas of Swynnerton (born October 21, 1931 in Windsor), is a British historian. ...

Cuban American emigrant sources place the number of executions in a far higher bracket. The Cuban American National Foundation alleges that since the revolution 12,000 political executions have taken place.^[12] Dr. Armando Lago, of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, a group of academics whose board of directors is almost entirely comprised of Cuban exiles,^[16] claim that between 15,000 and 18,000 Cubans were executed for counterrevolutionary activities since the revolution. He also alleges that 250 Cubans disappeared during the period, 500 died in prison for lack of medical attention, 500 were killed in prison by guards and there were 150 extrajudicial assassinations of women. Lago calculated these numbers "using old news accounts, U.S. and Organization of American States records and family histories."^[17] Lago's study relies heavily on records of the US State Department and the Organization of American States. A Cuban-American is an immigrant to the United States from Cuba. ... The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to overthrowing the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. ... A counterrevolutionary is anyone who opposes a revolution, particularly those who act after a revolution to try to overturn or reverse it, in full or in part. ... Headquarters Washington, D.C. Official languages English, French, Spanish, Portuguese Membership 35 countries Leaders  -  Secretary General José Miguel Insulza (since 26 May 2005) Establishment  -  Charter first signed 30 April 1948 in effect 1 December 1951  Website http://www. ...

The Black Book of Communism gives an estimate of 15,000-17,000 people who were executed.^[18] The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression is a controversial book edited by doctor Stéphane Courtois which attempts to catalog various crimes (deaths, torture, deportations, etc. ...

The author of the Historical Atlas, an online personal compilation of various sources claims: "The dividing line between those who have an axe to grind and those who don't falls in the 5,000-12,000 range."^[12]

The highest estimates are given by R.J. Rummel, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Hawaii. He gives the number of 73,000 as the mid-point estimate of victims of the alleged democide by the Castro administration. His low and high estimates are 35,000 and 141,000 respectively. One important reason his numbers are higher than those from other sources is because he counts the estimated deaths of refugees trying to flee and for example drowning as democide.[1] Democide is a term coined by political scientist R. J. Rummel for the murder of any person or people by a government, including genocide, politicide, and mass murder. Rummel created the term as an extended concept to include forms of government murder that are not covered by the legal definition...

In 1986 a "Tribunal on Cuba" was held in Paris to present testimonies by former prisoners of Cuba's penal system to the international media. The gathering was sponsored by "Resistance international" and "The Coalition of Committees for the Rights of Man in Cuba". The testimonies presented at the tribunal, before an international panel, alleged a pattern of torture in Cuba's prisons and "hard labor camps". These included beatings, biological experiments in diet restrictions, violent interrogations and extremely unsanitary conditions. The jury concurred with allegations of arbitrary arrests; sentencing by court martial with neither public audience nor defense; periods in hard labour camps without sufficient food, clothes and medical care; and the arrests of children over nine years old.^[19] This article is about the capital of France. ...

Execution of General Arnaldo Ochoa

The number of reported executions in Cuba declined during the 1970s and by the 1980s were restricted to rare high-profile cases, notably the execution of General Arnaldo Ochoa in 1989. Ochoa, once proclaimed "Hero of the Revolution" by Fidel Castro, along with three other high-ranking officers, was brought to trial for drug trafficking. This offense carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, but Ochoa and the others were convicted of treason and promptly executed, largely on the basis of secret evidence. Arnaldo Ochoa Sánchez (1930 – July 12, 1989) was a prominent Cuban general who was executed after being found guilty of treason by a Cuban Court. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... For other uses, see Treason (disambiguation) or Traitor (disambiguation). ...

^{[citation needed]} Opponents of the Castro government outside of Cuba expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of Ochoa's arrest and execution. In the opinion of former Brigadier-General Rafael del Pino, who had been a close personal friend of Ochoa since the early days of the revolution, the arrest and execution was an attempt to keep a different high-ranking Cuban official from defecting. ^{[citation needed]} Del Pino himself defected from Cuba in May 1987. Rafael del Pino (and family) is one of the wealthiest men in the world. ... A defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

Contemporary Cuba

Opposition Movement

The opposition movement in Cuba is a widespread collection of individuals and nongovernmental organizations, most of whom are working for the respect of individual rights on the island.^[20] Some of the best known Cuban members of the opposition include the Ladies in White, Martha Beatriz Roque, recipients of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Sakharov Prize winner Oswaldo Payá, as well as Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet, and Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez." The movement is violently repressed by the State despite its nonviolent strategy for change.^[21] Individual rights represent the moral rights of individuals in society prior to government. ... Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) is an opposition movement in Cuba that unites the spouses and other relatives of dissidents jailed by the government of Fidel Castro. ... Martha Beatriz Roque (born 1946) is a Cuban economist and human rights campaigner. ... The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1985 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organizations who had dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedoms. ... Lester B. Pearson after accepting the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish and Norwegian: Nobels fredspris) is the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. ... The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1985 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organizations who had dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedoms. ... Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (born February 29, 1952 in Havana Cuba) is the founder and organizer of Proyecto Varela. External link Proyecto Varela full text in Spanish Categories: People stubs | 1952 births | Cuban politicians | Democracy activists ... Oscar Elías Biscet (born July 20, 1961) is a prominent Christian activist living within Cuba. ...

The opposition movement in Cuba is also supported by the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus and the US-Cuba Democracy Pac and non-governmental organizations such as the Mothers Against Repression, Cuban Liberty Council, and the Cuban American National Foundation, to name a few. In turn, international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have drawn attention to the actions of the human rights movement and designated members of it as Prisoners of Conscience, such as 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet. In addition, the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba led by former heads of state Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic, José María Aznar of Spain and Patricio Aylwin of Chile was created to support the civic movement.^[22] The Cuba Democracy Caucus is a bicameral and bi-partisan congressional group that was created with the stated purpose of promoting discussion and proactive policies designed to hasten Cubas transition towards a free and democratic society. ... The US-Cuba Democracy Pac is an American special interest group that lobbies the United States Congress and White House with the stated goal of promoting an unconditional transition in Cuba to democracy, the rule of law, and the free market. ... The Cuban Liberty Council (CLC) is a not for profit organization committed to promoting liberty and democracy in Cuba. ... The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to overthrowing the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... Oscar Elías Biscet (born July 20, 1961) is a prominent Christian activist living within Cuba. ... The International Committee for Democracy in Cuba is a group based in Prague and headed by former Czech leader Václav Havel. ... Václav Havel [VAWTS-lav HA-vel] (born October 5, 1936) is a Czech writer and dramatist. ...   (born in Madrid on February 25, 1953) is a Spanish politician who served as Spanish prime minister from 1996 to 2004. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

Due process

Human Rights Watch states that "Although in theory the different branches of government have separate and defined areas of authority, in practice the executive retains clear control over all levers of power. The courts, which lack independence, undermine the right to fair trial by severely restricting the right to a defense." and "The government also imprisons or orders the surveillance of individuals who have committed no illegal act, relying upon provisions that penalize “dangerousness” (estado peligroso) and allow for “official warning” (advertencia oficial)."[2] Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ...

Freedom of Expression

Cuba officially adopted the civil and political rights enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. One of the key principles in the declaration was the insistence on Freedom of expression and opinion. In 1976 the new Cuban constitution adopted the following articles. Article 53: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (abbreviated UDHR) is an advisory declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/217, 10 December 1948 at Palais de Chaillot, Paris). ... This article is about the general concept. ... Since attaining its independence from Spain, Cuba has had five constitutions. ...

Article 62 of the Cuban constitution states:

Individual Human rights groups and international organizations believe that these articles subordinate the exercise of freedom of expression to the state. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights assess that: "It is evident that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression under this article of the Constitution is governed by two fundamental determinants: on the one hand, the preservation and strengthening of the communist State; on the other, the need to muzzle any criticism of the group in power."^[23] Human rights group Amnesty International assert that the universal state ownership of the media means that freedom of expression is restricted. Thus the exercise of the right to freedom of expression is restricted by the lack of means of mass communication falling outside state control.^[24] Human Rights Watch states: "Refusing to recognize human rights monitoring as a legitimate activity, the government denies legal status to local human rights groups. Individuals who belong to these groups face systematic harassment, with the government putting up obstacles to impede them from documenting human rights conditions. In addition, international human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are barred from sending fact-finding missions to Cuba. It remains one of the few countries in the world to deny the International Committee of the Red Cross access to its prisons."[3] The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (the IACHR or, in Spanish, CIDH) is one of the two bodies that comprise the inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ...

A Reporters Without Borders report finds that Internet use is very restricted and under tight surveillance. Access is only possible with government permission and equipment is rationed. E-mail is monitored.[4] See also Censorship in Cuba. Reporters Without Borders, or RWB (French: Reporters sans frontières, Spanish: Reporteros Sin Fronteras, or RSF) is a French origin international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press, founded by its current general-secretary, Robert Menard. ... Censorship in Cuba has been reported on extensively, and resulted in European Union sanctions as well as statements of protest from groups, governments, and noted individuals. ...

Foreign journalists are systematically expelled from Cuba, eg. notable journalists of New Left Gazeta Wyborcza Anna Bikont and Seweryn Blumsztahn were expelled in 2005. The New Left is a term used in different countries to describe left-wing movements that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Gazeta Wyborcza (pronounce: [gazεta vibɔrʧa] , gazeta vibborcha) is, as of 2005, Polands second largest distribution daily newspaper (after the tabloid Fakt). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Freedom of Association and Assembly

Human Rights Watch states that "freedom of assembly is severely restricted in Cuba, and political dissidents are generally prohibited from meeting in large groups.[5] Amnesty states that "All human rights, civil and professional associations and unions that exist today in Cuba outside the officialdom of the state apparatus and mass organizations controlled by the government are barred from having legal status. This often puts at risk the individuals who belong to these associations of facing harassment, intimidation or criminal charges for activities which constitute the legitimate exercise of the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly."[6] Group of women holding placards with political activist slogans: know your courts - study your politicians, Liberty in law, Law makers must not be law breakers, and character in candidates photo 1920 Freedom of assembly is the freedom to associate with, or organize any groups, gatherings, clubs, or organizations that one... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience...

The Cuban authorities only recognize a single national trade union centre, the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC), heavily controlled by the State and the Communist Party which appoints its leaders. Membership is compulsory for all workers. Before a worker can be hired they have to sign a contract in which they promise to support the Communist Party and all it represents. The government explicitly prohibits independent trade unions, there is systematic harassment and detention of labor activists, and the leaders of attempted independent unions have been imprisoned. The right to strike is not recognized in law.[7][8][9] The Workers Central Union of Cuba (CTC) is the trade union centre in Cuba. ...

Society

Permission from the government is required to move to another home due to the lack of private property rights. Jobs are also subject to state control.

In 2001 an attempt was made by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas and others from the Christian Liberation Movement, operating as the Varela Project, to have a national plebiscite using provisions in the Constitution of Cuba which provided for citizen initiative. If accepted by the government and approved by public vote, the amendments would have established such things as freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of press, as well as starting private businesses. The petition was refused by the National Assembly and in response a referendum was held in support of socialism being a permanent fixture of the constitution, for which the government claimed 99% voter approval. Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (born February 29, 1952 in Havana Cuba) is the founder and organizer of Proyecto Varela. External link Proyecto Varela full text in Spanish ... The Varela Project was a citizens initiative undertaken by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas of the Christian Liberation Movement and others in Cuba. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... Cuba has had several constitutions. ... initiative, see Initiative (disambiguation). ... Freedom of association is a Constitutional (legal) concept based on the premise that it is the right of free adults to mutually choose their associates for whatever purpose they see fit. ... This article is about the general concept. ... Freedom of the press (or press freedom) is the guarantee by a government of free public speech often through a state constitution for its citizens, and associations of individuals extended to members of news gathering organizations, and their published reporting. ... Look up Petition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Another important project is the establishment of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society. The Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba is a coalition of 365 independent civil society groups with the stated aims of forming a democratic culture, developing a social movement, strengthening the Assembly’s organization, communicating among groups to promote the civil society, using all available means to combat poverty and seeking the betterment of the community’s life conditions, developing a true knowledge of Cuba’s history, in all its dimensions: economic, social and political, undertaking activities and projects aimed at the protection and conservation of natural resources and the ecosystem, and promoting a true culture on labor rights.^[25] The Assembly had its first meeting in May 2005.^[26]

Capital punishment

Cuba placed a moratorium on the use of capital punishment in 2001 but an exception was made when, in 2003, three Cubans were executed for a ferry hijacking using automatic weapons in which Cuban families and two young French female tourists were held at gunpoint. The incident resulted in no injuries, but was broadcast on national television to wide condemnation; the decision to execute was allegedly taken in order to deter a supposed US plot to start a wave of hijackings. Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ...

"Acts of repudiation"

Human rights groups including Amnesty International have long been critical of what the Cuban authorities have termed "Acts of repudiation" (actos de repudio). These acts occur when large groups of citizens verbally abuse, intimidate and sometimes physically assault and throw stones and other objects at homes of Cubans considered to be counter-revolutionary. Human rights groups suspect that these acts are often carried out in collusion with the security forces and sometimes involve the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution or the Rapid Response Brigades. The level of violence of these acts have increased significantly since 2003.^[27] A counterrevolutionary is anyone who opposes a revolution, particularly those who act after a revolution to try to overturn or reverse it, in full or in part. ... Long Live Socialism CDR billboard in countryside on the way from Havana to Pinar del Rio. ...

Notable Prisoners of conscience

• In 1960, Armando Valladares was working at the Cuban Postal Savings Bank when agents of the Ministry of Communications handed him a card bearing a communist slogan and told him to put it on his worktable. The 23-year-old Valladares refused. Astonished, the agents asked him if he had anything against Castro. Valladares answered that if Castro was a communist, he did. Valladares was convicted on a charge of placing bombs in public places and was sentenced to thirty years in prison. His supporters contend that he was never part of the Batista police as alleged by Castro supporters (as Valladares was only 19 at the time of the revolution), and that his imprisonment was the result of his vocal opposition to the Castro government. Conservative author David Horowitz has called him a "Human Rights Hero." Valladares claims to have been tortured and humiliated while on a hunger strike to protest prison abuses; he claims the guards denied him water until he became delirious, and proceeded to urinate in his mouth and on his face. Valladares was released from prison after twenty-two years upon the intercession of France's Socialist President François Mitterrand.
• In 1973, gay writer Reinaldo Arenas was sent to prison after being charged and convicted of 'ideological deviation' and for publishing abroad without official consent. He escaped from prison and tried to leave Cuba by launching himself from the shore on a tire inner tube. The attempt failed and he was re-arrested near Lenin Park and imprisoned at the notorious El Morro Castle alongside murderers and rapists. After escaping Cuba, Arenas described the horrors he endured under the Cuban regime in his autobiography Antes que anochezca (1992), English translation Before Night Falls (1993).
• On August 28, 1998, a Havana court sentenced Reynaldo Alfaro García, a member of the Democratic Solidarity Party, to three years in prison for "spreading enemy propaganda" and "rumour-mongering."
• Desi Mendoza, a Cuban doctor, was imprisoned for making statements criticizing Cuba's response to an epidemic of dengue fever in Santiago de Cuba which he alleged had caused several deaths. Dr. Mendoza had previously been fired from his job in a Cuban hospital three years earlier for establishing an independent medical association. He was later released due to ill-health, subject to his leaving the country. [10] [11]
• Oscar Elías Biscet, a medical doctor, has been sentenced to jail for 25 years in horrendous conditions for his peaceful, but vocal opposition to Castro.
• In early 2003 dozens of persons, including independent journalists, librarians and other opponents of the Castro government were jailed after summary show trials, with some sentences in excess of 20 years, on the charge of receiving money from the United States to carry out anti-government activity.
• An Amnesty International report, CUBA: fundamental freedoms still under attack from Amnesty International calls for the "Cuban authorities to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally" and to "revoke all legislation that restricts freedom of expression, assembly and association, and to put a halt to all actions to harass and intimidate dissidents, journalists, and human rights defenders."
• Jorge Luis García Antúnez was reported to have been released from prison in April 2007 after serving his full sentence of 17 years and 34 days after having, at the age of 25, shouted slogans against Fidel Castro. García Antúnez was convicted of sabotage after authorities accused him of setting fire to sugar cane fields, sabotage, spreading "enemy propaganda", and being in illegal possession of a weapon.^[28][29]

Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Armando Valladares was a political prisoner and prisoner of conscience in Cuba. ... David Horowitz is an American conservative writer and activist. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ...   IPA: (October 26, 1916 – January 8, 1996) served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, elected as representative of the Socialist Party (PS). ... Reinaldo Arenas (July 16, 1943 – December 7, 1990) was a Cuban poet, novelist, and playwright who despite his early sympathy for the 1959 revolution, grew critical of and then rebelled against the Cuban government. ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Democratic Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Democrática) is an illegal liberal party in Cuba. ... Oscar Elías Biscet (born July 20, 1961) is a prominent Christian activist living within Cuba. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience... Human rights defender is a term used to describe people who, individually or with others, act to promote or protect human rights. ...

Travel and emigration

Citizens cannot leave or return to Cuba without first obtaining official permission, which is often denied. Unauthorized travel can result in criminal prosecution. The government also frequently bars certain citizens engaged in authorized travel (primarily medical personnel and other professionals deemed essential to the country) from taking their children with them overseas, which critics see as essentially holding the children hostage to guarantee the parents’ return.[12]

Castro opposition leader Oswaldo Payá has been allowed to travel abroad to receive his Sakharov Prize, while independent journalist Yndamiro Restano, permitted to leave Cuba to receive an award, has not been allowed to return.^{[citation needed]} Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (born February 29, 1952 in Havana Cuba) is the founder and organizer of Proyecto Varela. External link Proyecto Varela full text in Spanish Categories: People stubs | 1952 births | Cuban politicians | Democracy activists ... The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1985 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organizations who had dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedoms. ...

From 1959 through 1993, some 1.2 million Cubans (about 10% of the current population) left the island for the United States [13], often by sea in small boats and fragile rafts. In the early years a number of those who could claim dual Spanish-Cuban citizenship left for Spain. Over time a number of Cuban Jews were released to Israel in quiet negotiations; the majority of the 10,000 or so Jews who were in Cuba in 1959 have left. After the collapse of the Soviet Union many Cubans now reside in a diverse number of countries, some ending up in countries of the European Union. A large number of Cubans live in Mexico and Canada. Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

At times the exodus was tolerated by the Cuban government as a "release valve"; at other times the government has impeded it. Some Cubans left for economic reasons, some for political ones, but most departed for a combination of the two.^{[citation needed]} Others emigrated by way of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, which is blocked on the Cuban side by barbed-wired fences and landmines. It is estimated that only one of every three or four Cubans who have attempted to escape has been successful. ^{[citation needed]} Thousands have died in their attempts. USN redirects here. ... Gitmo redirects here. ...

In 1995 the U.S. government entered into an agreement with the Cuban government to resolve the emigration crisis that created the Mariel Boatlift of 1980, when Castro opened the docks to anyone who wanted to leave. The result of the negotiations was an agreement under which the United States was required to issue 20,000 visas annually to Cuban emigrants. This quota is rarely filled; the Cuban government claims that the Bush administration has refused to comply with the act, issuing only 505 visas to Cubans in the first six months of 2003. However, this does not address the blockage of certain visa-carrying Cubans.^{[citation needed]} Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Cuban refugees arriving in crowded boats during the Mariel Boatlift crisis. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On July 13, 1994, 72 Cubans attempted to leave the Island on a World War II era tugboat named the 13 de Marzo. In an attempt by the Cuban Navy to stop the tugboat, patrol boats were sent out to intercept the tug. Crewmen and survivors reported that the interception vessels rammed the tugboat and sprayed its passengers with high pressure fire hoses, sweeping many overboard.[14] A total of 41 men, women and children drowned after being swept off the tug’s deck, 11 of these were children under the age of 12. is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A tugboat shown turning a large RORO cargo ship. ... On July 13, 1994, 72 Cubans attempted to leave the island of Cuba on a World War II era tugboat from the town of Regla near Havana. ...

Right to Education

Main article: Education in Cuba

Education in Cuba is nominally free at all levels and controlled by the Ministry for Education. In 1961 the government nationalized all private educational institutions and introduced a state-directed education system. The system has been criticized for political indoctrination and for monitoring the political opinions of the students. It has also been criticized for prohibiting any private alternatives to the state-directed education system and for limiting the power of parents to influence their children's education. Educational oversight Minister of Education Ministry of Education Luis Ignacio Gómez Gutiérrez National education budget $2752 million CP ($246 CP per capita)[1] (2002) Primary languages Spanish system Literacy (2004)  â€¢ Men  â€¢ Women 100[2]% 100[3]% 100[4]% Enrollment  â€¢ Primary  â€¢ Secondary  â€¢ Post-secondary Attainment  â€¢ Secondary diploma  â€¢ Post-secondary...

Right to Healthcare

Main article: Healthcare of Cuba

The Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes full fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of its citizens. The government prohibits any private alternatives to the national health system. The Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes full fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of its citizens. ...

In 1976, Cuba's healthcare program was enshrined in Article 50 of the revised constitution which states, "Everyone has the right to health protection and care".

Religious freedom

Main article: Religion in Cuba

In the years following the Cuban Revolution, the Roman Catholic Church suffered persecution. Not only did Castro severely limit its activities, but in 1961 he confiscated, without compensation, all property held by religious organizations. Hundreds of members of the clergy, including a bishop, were permanently expelled from the nation. The Cuban leadership was officially atheist until 1992 when the Communist Party agreed to allow religious followers to join the party. In 1998, Pope John Paul II visited the island and was allowed to conduct large outdoor masses. During his visit, the Pope strongly condemned Castro and his human rights record but encouraged reconciliation. That same year, Cuba approved visas for nineteen foreign priests to take up residence in the country. In addition, other religious groups in Cuba such as the Jewish community are now permitted to hold public services and to import religious materials and kosher food for Passover, as well as to receive rabbis and other religious visitors from abroad. Religion in Cuba reflects the island’s diverse cultural elements. ... The Cuban Revolution refers to the revolution that led to the overthrow of General Fulgencio Batistas regime on January 1, 1959 by the 26th of July Movement and other revolutionary elements within the country. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... “Atheist” redirects here. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is currently the only officially recognized political party in Cuba. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan PaweÅ‚ II) born   []; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) reigned as the 264th Pope of... For other uses of Mass, see Mass (disambiguation). ... Entry visa valid in Schengen treaty countries. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ... This article is about the Jewish holiday. ... For the town in Italy, see Rabbi, Italy. ...

Rights of women

Main article: Women in Cuba

Women in Cuba have equal constitutional rights as men in the economic, political, cultural and social fields, as well as in the family. According to article 44 of the Cuban Constitution, the state "guarantees women the same opportunities and possibilities as men, in order to achieve woman’s full participation in the development of the country." Women currently hold 35% of the parliamentary seats in the Cuban National Assembly ranking sixth of 162 countries behind Rwanda, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark on issues of female participation in political life.^[30] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cuba. ... The economy of Cuba is a largely state-controlled, planned economy overseen by the Cuban government, though there remains significant foreign investment and enterprise in Cuba. ... Politics of Cuba take place within a framework of a socialist republic. ... The culture of Cuba is a complex mixture of different, often contrasting, factors and influences. ... The National Assembly of People’s Power (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular) is the legislative parliament of the Republic of Cuba and the supreme body of State power. ...

Cason affair

In March 2003, the government of Cuba arrested dozens of journalists, librarians, and human rights activists, and charged them with sedition due to their alleged contacts with James Cason, head of the United States Interests Section in Havana[15]. The accused were tried and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 28 years. In all, 75 journalists, librarians, and dissidents were given lengthy sentences averaging 17 years each. Among those sentenced were poet and journalist Raúl Rivero, economist Martha Beatriz Roque, and Christian activist Oscar Elías Biscet. Amnesty International described the closed-door trials as "hasty and manifestly unfair." [16] March 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - → // Events March 1, 2003 Iraq disarmament crisis: The Turkish speaker of Parliament voids the vote accepting U.S. troops involved in the planned invasion of Iraq into Turkey on constitutional grounds. ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ... The Librarian, a 1556 painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo A librarian is an information professional trained in library science and information science: the organization and management of information and service to people with information needs. ... The Magna Carta or Great Charter was the worlds first document containing commitments by a sovereign to his people to respect certain legal rights Human rights refers to the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty... Sedition is a term of law which refers to covert conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order. ... US Interest Section Chief in Cuba. ... The United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba or USINT Havana (for the State Department telegraphic address) represents US interests in Cuba. ... Raúl Rivero Castañeda is a Cuban poet and journalist. ... Martha Beatriz Roque (born 1946) is a Cuban economist and human rights campaigner. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Oscar Elías Biscet (born July 20, 1961) is a prominent Christian activist living within Cuba. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience...

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque denied these accusations and responded: "Cuba has the right to defend itself and apply punishment just like other nations do, like the United States punishes those who cooperate with a foreign power to inflict damage on their people and territory." [17] Felipe Pérez Roque is the foreign minister of the Republic of Cuba. ...

During the closed-door trial, evidence was presented that the defendants had received funds from the U.S. Interests Section. Cuban officials claim that the goal of this funding was to undermine the Cuban state, disrupt internal order, and damage the Cuban economy. For his part, Cason denies offering funds to anyone in Cuba.

On November 29, 2004, the Cuban government unexpectedly released three dissidents arrested in the March 2003 roundup: opposition leader Oscar Espinosa Chepe, Marcelo López, and Margarito Broche. The action followed a meeting between the Spanish ambassador and Cuba's foreign minister. [18] In subsequent days four more dissidents were released: poet Raúl Rivero, Osvaldo Alfonso Valdés [19], journalist Edel José García [20], and journalist Jorge Olivera. [21] Seven other prisoners had previously been released for health reasons. Sixty-one of the 75 original inmates remain behind bars. is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Oscar Manuel Espinosa Chepe (born November 29, 1940 ) is a journalist and economist in Havana. ... Raúl Rivero Castañeda is a Cuban poet and journalist. ...

Homosexuality

Main article Gay rights in Cuba. See also Socialism and sexual orientation

Sexual relations between same-sex consenting adults sixteen and over have been legal in Cuba since 1992, though same-sex relationships are not presently recognised by the state. Restrictions on public assembly and all non-state approved organizations effectively means that LGBT associations are not permitted. Following the 1959 revolution, Cuba’s communist government embarked upon a pervasive effort to rid the nation of homosexuality, which was seen as a product of a capitalist society. ... While contemporary left-wing politics is often associated with support for sexual minorities, socialism has generally taken a conservative position on such issues, and socialist governments have usually introduced repressive legislation when they have come to power. ... See Adult. ... A same-sex couple is a pair of people of the same sex, who pursue a relationship similar to that of a heterosexual married couple. ... The initialism LGBT also GLBT is in use (since the 1990s) to refer collectively to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. ...

Due to longstanding cultural tendencies, public antipathy towards LGBT people was traditionally high, reflecting regional norms. This has eased somewhat following cultural changes to Cuban society in the 1990s, and subsequent gradual measures undertaken by the Cuban Government.^[31] Educational campaigns on LGBT issues are currently implemented by the National Center for Sex Education headed by Mariela Castro. The National Center for Sex Education (Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual, or CENESEX) is a government-funded body in Cuba. ... Mariela Castro addressing the Latin America plenary of the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights in Montreal. ...

In 2003, Carlos Sanchez from the International Lesbian and Gay Association issued a report on the status of gay people in Cuba that claimed that the Cuban government no longer offers any legal punishment for its gay citizens, that there is a greater level of tolerance among Cubans for gay and transgender people, and that the Cuban government was open to endorsing a gay rights plank at the United Nations [22]. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) is an international organization bringing together more than 400 lesbian and gay groups from around the world. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ...

United Nations Human Rights Commission

Since 1990, The United States has presented various resolutions to the annual UN Human Rights Commission criticizing Cuba’s human rights record. The proposals and subsequent diplomatic disagreements have been described as a "nearly annual ritual".^[32] Long term consensus between Latin American nations has not emerged.^[33] The resolutions were passed 1990-1997, but were rejected in 1998.^[32] Subsequent efforts by the U.S. have succeeded by narrow voting margins. In the Americas, some governments back the criticism, others oppose it, seeing it as a cynical manipulation of a serious human rights issue in order to promote the isolation of the island and to justify the decades-old embargo.^[34] European Union nations have universally voted against Cuba since 1990, though requests that the resolution should contain references to the negative effects of the economic embargo have been made.^[35] The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, a commission supervised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, is composed of representatives from 53 member states, and meets each year in regular session in March/April for six weeks in Geneva. ...

See also

Cuba Portal

• Cubana Flight 455
• Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio)
• Cuban Five
• Cuban Liberty Council
• Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations
• International Committee for Democracy in Cuba
• Ladies in White
• Lawton Foundation
• Guantanamo Bay detention camp
• U.S. embargo against Cuba
• Varela Project
• Women in Cuba
• Gustavo Arcos
• Luis Posada Carriles
• Martha Beatriz Roque
• Orlando Bosch
• Oscar Elías Biscet
• Oswaldo Payá
• Pedro Luis Boitel
• Raúl Rivero

Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Cubana Flight 455 was a Cubana de Aviación flight departing from Barbados, via Trinidad, to Cuba. ... // The Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio Democratico Cubano) is a non-governmental organization with the stated purpose of working forfreedom, democracy and human rights in Cuba by way of nonviolent civic struggle. ... This poster from a Swedish-Cuban friendship organization says: Free the 5 Cubans, political prisoners in the USA The Cuban Five are Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando Gonzáles, and René Gonzáles. ... The Cuban Liberty Council (CLC) is a not for profit organization committed to promoting liberty and democracy in Cuba. ... Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations (CORU) has been described by the FBI as an anti-Castro terrorist umbrella organization. It has taken part in operation Condor, organizing Chilean former minister Orlando Leteliers assassination in Washington, D.C. in 1976. ... The International Committee for Democracy in Cuba is a group based in Prague and headed by former Czech leader Václav Havel. ... Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) is an opposition movement in Cuba that unites the spouses and other relatives of dissidents jailed by the government of Fidel Castro. ... The Lawton Foundation was founded in 1997 in Havana, Cuba as a non-governmental organization to promote the study, defense and denunciation of human rights inside Cuba. The group was formed by Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet Gonzalez and is made up of adult Cuban citizens of all ages, social... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War Against Terrorism Wikisource has original text related to this article: Statement of Alberto J Mora on interrogation abuse, July 7, 2004 Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a joint military prison and... The United States embargo against Cuba (described in Cuba as el bloqueo, Spanish for the blockade) is an economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States on February 7, 1962. ... The Varela Project was a citizens initiative undertaken by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas of the Christian Liberation Movement and others in Cuba. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cuba. ... Gustavo Arcos Bergnes (December 19, 1926 – August 8, 2006) was a fellow Cuban revolutionary alongside Fidel Castro who later became an imprisoned dissident of the government. ... Arrest photograph of Luis Posada Carriles Luis Clemente Faustino Posada Carriles (born February 15, 1928) is a Cuban-born Venezuelan anti-Castro terrorist. ... Martha Beatriz Roque (born 1946) is a Cuban economist and human rights campaigner. ... Orlando Bosch is a Cuban exile and former CIA-backed terrorist, head of CORU organization, which the FBI has described as an anti-Castro terrorist umbrella organization. He has been accused of having taken part in Operation Condor and of a variety of terrorist attacks. ... Oscar Elías Biscet (born July 20, 1961) is a prominent Christian activist living within Cuba. ... Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (born February 29, 1952 in Havana Cuba) is the founder and organizer of Proyecto Varela. External link Proyecto Varela full text in Spanish Categories: People stubs | 1952 births | Cuban politicians | Democracy activists ... Pedro Luis Boitel (1931-1972) was a Cuban poet and dissident opposing the governments of both Fulgencio Batista and Fidel Castro. ... Raúl Rivero Castañeda is a Cuban poet and journalist. ...

References

Hugh Thomas, Baron Thomas of Swynnerton (born October 21, 1931 in Windsor), is a British historian. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pronounced is known as a financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ...

External links

• Human Rights Watch Report: "Cuba's Repressive Machinery"
• Amnesty International Report on Cuba (2005)
• Annual Report 2006: Cuba Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
• "Gay Rights and Wrongs in Cuba" from the Gay and Lesbian Humanist
• Censorship in Cuba - International Freedom of Expression Exchange
• For constitutional rights: The Cuban Constitution
• Facts and links on Human rights in Cuba
• Excerpt from Ricardo Bofill's "Indagacion en Los Origenes del Movimiento Cubano pro Derechos Humanos" or "Inquiry into the Origins of the Cuban Human Rights Movement"
• The Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba
• Democracy Activist Oswaldo Paya
• Cuban Democratic Directorate
• International Committee for Democracy in Cuba

v • d • e Human rights in North America
Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama* · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Trinidad and Tobago* · United States
Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla · Aruba* · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Montserrat · Navassa Island · Netherlands Antilles* · Puerto Rico · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · Turks and Caicos Islands · U. S. Virgin Islands
* Territories also in or commonly reckoned elsewhere in the Americas (South America).