UN Authority Figures

UN Human Rights Council : Cuba

Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez"
" "Former political prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" [who served sentences for his opposition to the Cuban regime totaling 17 years]; his wife, Iris, who has had her own troubles with the Castro dictatorship; and a third dissident, Ana Margarita Perdigón, were arrested early morning [August 22] in Havana... Their whereabouts were unknown" until August 24 when "Antúnez, his wife Iris and Perdigón were kicked out of Havana" ( Antúnez, wife arrested (updated), August 24, 2008, Uncommon sense)

Mission of the Human Rights Council:
"The General Assembly...2. Decides that the Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner; 3. Decides also that the Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon..." (Resolution 60/251)

Cuba's Term of office: 2009-2012

Cuba's Record on human rights:
"The government continued to deny its citizens their basic human rights...[T]he government effectively and frequently used arbitrary arrest and detention to harass opponents. The law denies all legally recognized civil liberties to anyone who "actively opposes the decision of the people to build socialism."...[S]ecurity forces continued to employ aggressive and physically abusive tactics...[T]rials were closed whenever state security was at stake, a frequent occurrence. Almost all cases were tried in less than one day...The penal code includes the concept of "potential dangerousness," defined as the "special proclivity of a person to commit crimes, demonstrated by his conduct in manifest contradiction of socialist norms." No evidence is required for a conviction for this offense...[C]riticism of the president or members of the National Assembly or Council of State is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment. Disseminating "enemy propaganda," which includes expressing opinions at odds with those of the government, is punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment if the "propaganda" was distributed by means of mass media...Authorities reviewed and censored e‑mail." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2009, Cuba)

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