On July 2021, thousands of Cubans took to the streets demanding freedom. A peaceful protest, organised by the activist group 'Archipielago' is expected on 15 November 2021. We are concerned by the repressive response to the protests by the Cuban Government. We support Amnesty International's request to Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by letter dated 23 July 2021. We request the Australian Government and Human Rights organisations contact the Cuban Embassy and the Cuban Government and ask that they:

1- Immediately and unconditionally release the hundreds of people who were detained and are being held for their peaceful participation in the protests on 11 July, and to refrain from detaining peaceful demonstrators in future.

2- Stop repressing peaceful demonstrators and instead, guarantee the right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

3- Take steps to address social demands of the population and the accumulation of historical demands for respect of the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

As stated by Amnesty International, the existence of the embargo is no justification for the Cuban Authorities' repressive response to the protests on July 2021 and for their violation of human rights.