Cuba, U.S., and Human Rights: Experts See a Dark Present and Uncertain Future

Human rights organizations are calling for the central role of political prisoners in any dialogue between the United States and Cuba, citing systematic violations of basic freedoms on the island. These NGOs, which closely monitor the situation in Cuba, agree that human rights must be a cornerstone of bilateral discussions.

“

Any dialogue process must place human rights and the humanitarian needs of all people in Cuba, without discrimination, at its center.

However, there is a divergence of opinion among these organizations regarding Washington's commitment to human rights and the priority this issue will receive in upcoming talks. They also differ on the role that Cuban civil society and third countries should play. Johanna Cilano, a researcher for Amnesty International (AI) in the Caribbean, stressed that "any dialogue process must place human rights and the humanitarian needs of all people in Cuba, without discrimination, at its center."

For Amnesty International, "human rights are non-negotiable: Cuba's future must be agreed upon and decided with full accountability, justice, and reparation for those living under repression, scarcity, and lack of freedoms." Javier Larrondo, president of Prisoners Defenders (PD), echoed this sentiment, stating that human rights are not optional when the goal is for "a country to be reborn from its ashes." He argued that neither economic prosperity nor security is possible without a freer and more democratic society, which requires eliminating human rights violations first.

“

Human rights are non-negotiable: Cuba's future must be agreed upon and decided with full accountability, justice, and reparation for those living under repression, scarcity, and lack of freedoms.

The consensus is stark regarding the current situation in Cuba. Camila Rodríguez, director of Justicia 11J, described it as "deeply concerning." She explained that despite recent releases, the "underlying problem" is "structural" and remains "intact." According to PD, April ended with 1,260 political prisoners in Cuba. Justicia 11J places this figure around 800 and has confirmed the deaths of eight individuals imprisoned for political reasons since 2023.

“

They are not an optional matter when the goal is for a country to be reborn from its ashes: neither economy nor security will be possible without a freer and more democratic society, and to achieve that, human rights violations must be eliminated first.

Rodríguez denounced that "it is still possible to end up in prison in Cuba for exercising rights that should be fully guaranteed, such as freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly." Larrondo believes human rights are at their "worst moment," characterized by "uncontrolled and indiscriminate repression" and a "dantesque" prison scenario where many suffer "severe malnutrition." Cilano also highlighted AI's rejection of "external unilateral coercive measures that worsen living conditions on the island," referring to U.S. sanctions.

“

It is still possible to end up in prison in Cuba for exercising rights that should be fully guaranteed, such as freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly.