The finalization of Raúl Castro’s mandate as President of the Cuban government in April 2018 will mark the end of an era for Cuba.
Transform confrontation into dialogue, is Amnesty International’s Human Rights Agenda for Cuba as part of this historic moment, with the objective to advance the protection and promotion of human rights in the country.
Cuba’s upcoming election represents an opportunity to work towards the full realization of human rights for all the Cuban people.
Amnesty International
Call on the new Cuban president
SUPPORT OUR HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA FOR CUBA!
1: OPEN UP TO HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS
● Ratify key human rights treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
● Allow Amnesty International to visit Cuba and other independent human rights monitors, like experts from the United Nations.
2: EMBRACE DIALOGUE WITH ALL SECTORS OF CUBAN SOCIETY
● Promote a meaningful participation of all sectors of civil society in the design of public policies and laws, including human rights defenders and independent trade unions.
● Allow the registration of associations through a regime of simple notification.
● Open consultations on reforms that guarantee the exercise of free media.
● Establish a mechanism for every citizen to access public information held by the government.
● Prohibit discrimination in employment based on political or other opinion.
3: GUARANTEE THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION
● Ensure that no one is prevented to access education, in particular because of their political opinions.
● Guarantee universal access to uncensored Internet
4: PROMOTE EQUALITY AND PREVENT DISCRIMINATION
● Continue anti-bullying campaigns in schools to guarantee LGBTI youth access to education free from discrimination.
● Become the first independent nation in the Caribbean to legalize same-sex unions.
● Develop comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in consultation with civil society.
5: STRENGTHEN THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY AND REFORM CRIMINAL LAWS
● Protect lawyers from intimidation and harassment in the exercise of their professional duties.
● Reform the criminal law to remove provisions inconsistent with international law such as those on “dangerousness”.
● Abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
CUBAN LIVES, lives in today’s Cuba
Support our human rights agenda for Cuba!
Call on the new Cuban president to give priority to human rights and implement our agenda
Cuba’s recent election represents an historic moment in recent history. It is an opportunity to look forward, an opportunity to engage in fruitful conversation about the country’s future, and an opportunity to work towards the full realization of all human rights for all Cuban people – without discrimination.
After a process of consultation with different sectors of Cuban civil society, Amnesty International has prepared an ambitious human rights agenda for the future of Cuba. In a spirit of constructive engagement, this agenda lays out a series of key human rights priorities for the incoming Cuban government, such as:
- To allow the registration of independent human rights groups and trade unions;
- To grant access to the country to Amnesty International and other independent human rights monitors;
- To immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience;
- To lift censorship on the Internet to guarantee the right to education;
- To bring criminal laws in line with international standards;
- To guarantee access to a free press;
- To become the first independent nation in the Caribbean to recognize same-sex unions.
Sign the petition now to call upon Cuba’s new government to take the necessary steps to implement this agenda and work towards a Cuba in which human rights are fully enjoyed by all.