UN AND OAS SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS ON FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT
SITUATION IN
CUBA.
On the occasion of the international celebration of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2003, Ambeyi Ligabo, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression and Eduardo Bertoni, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States (OAS) express their profound regret and grave concern over the recent sentencing of approximately 80 Cuban dissidents by Cuban authorities.
According to the information received by the Special Rapporteurs, those detained since 18 March 2003 had been active in voicing their opposition to the Cuba Government’s policies, particularly regarding the right to freedom of opinion and expression and were engaged in the defense of human rights in the country. It was reported that the Cuban journalists, human rights defenders and political activists that were charged with working with a foreign power to undermine the Cuban Government, received sentences ranging from 6 to 28 years of imprisonment under the Law for the Protection of Cuban National Independence and the Economy and the Law Reaffirming Cuban Dignity and Sovereignty.
The Special Rapporteurs consider that these events constitute a severe erosion of the right to freedom of opinion and expression on the island.
In this context, the Special Rapporteurs exhort the Cuban authorities to respect and protect the inalienable right to freedom of opinion and expression, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and call on the authorities to ensure the immediate release of all those condemned during the expedite proceedings which took place from 4-7 April 2003.
The mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression was created by the UN Commission on Human rights in 1993.
The Office of the Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States is a permanent office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the OAS. The Office of the Rapporteur arose from the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Americas, which was held in Santiago, Chile, in April 1998.
Kingston, Jamaica 3 May 2003