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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Free Cuba Foundation statement concerning International Human Rights Day




Sixty one years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by members of the UN General Assembly. Its signers proclaimed that the document  "be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Sadly, in many countries, such as Cuba, even displaying the document can land a person in jail for "subversive activities". (Cuba is a signer of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

This January will mark the 51st anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, which brought about the longest sitting dictator in the world, Fidel Castro. Under his rule, there are no free elections, freedom of speech is stifled, and Cubans spend long terms in prison for any type of peaceful dissent against the government.

Even now with his brother Raul  in power, not much has changed concerning human rights in Cuba, as Human Rights Watch released a report this November, titled "New Castro, Same Cuba."

The Free Cuba Foundation denounces any human rights violations against Cuba's nonviolent dissident movement. It will continue to spread the message of the brave Cuban men and women who risk intimidation, harassment and prison in order to fight for their democracy and fundamental human rights, rights that are universal and should be respected by any sitting government.

FULL TEXT of the Declaration
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Human Rights Watch report:
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/11/18/cuba-ra-l-castro-imprisons-critics-crushes-dissent

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