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The case for removing Cuba from the UN Human Rights Council continues to be made by the dictatorship's actions.
On May 3rd the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed "its serious concern about the condition of underage political prisoners of the Cuban regime" and "the health of political prisoners."
What follows is an excerpt of the statement issued.
"As of the date of this release, the arrest of at least 56 minors for participating in the demonstrations on July 11, 2021, has been documented by the Cuban organizations Justicia 11J and Cubalex."
"To date, 26 minors have been sentenced to prison or house arrest and face sentences of up to 19 years. Thirteen of them have been convicted of sedition. At least 14 minors are in prison and six are still awaiting trial. Among the 14, it is worth highlighting the cases of some who have been convicted of sedition, including Kendry Miranda Cárdenas, sentenced to 19 years; Rowland Jesús Castillo Castro, sentenced to 18 years; Lázaro Noel Urgelles Fajardo, sentenced to 14 years; Brandon David Becerra Curbelo, sentenced to 13 years; Emiyoslan Román Rodríguez, sentenced to 7 years; and Jonathan Torres Farrat, who is still awaiting trial for an 8-year sentence. Meanwhile, the Cuban regime has threatened the mothers of underage political prisoners so that they do not report, even with possible charges of sedition."
"In this context, the OAS General Secretariat underlines that the health situation of Cuban political prisoners continues to be quite precarious, without access to crucial medicines and specialized assistance, and highlights the cases of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who has suffered paralysis in a part of his body; of Maykel Castillo Pérez, who still does not have a trial date; and Aymara Nieto, a member of the Damas de Blanco, who has been imprisoned since 2018. Political prisoners, including minors, have been denied medical assistance. Several of them have contracted scabies, dengue, hepatitis and Covid-19. Two minors with chronic illnesses have been denied necessary treatment. The denial of medical assistance to political prisoners seriously violates the most basic human rights. The OAS General Secretariat demands that the Cuban government urgently provide medication and treatment to political prisoners."
Full statement available here.
Reporters Without Borders released their World Press Freedom Index and in their section on Cuba stated, "Cuba remains, year in and year out, the worst country for press freedom in Latin America."
The case of Cuban journalist Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca indicates part of the reason why. He was jailed in June 2021 for reporting on the release of flyers by a human rights group to honor Antonio Maceo on his birthday. Valle was sentenced to six years in prison for documenting this event.
In a 2017 interview shared by Latino Rebels he described the dangers for an independent reporter in Cuba. "said he’s been beaten, humiliated, jailed, almost killed via poisoning, and even threatened at gunpoint."