MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

17.9.2024 - (2024/2805(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

Diana Riba I Giner, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Nicolae Ştefănuță
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

B10‑0041/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

(2024/2805(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Cuba, in particular the one of 16 December 2021,

 

– having regard to Rule 150,

 

A. whereas the human rights defender and opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer was detained on 11 July 2021 when he was headed to attend the July 2021 protests in Cuba; whereas numerous protesters have been arrested in Cuba ever since; whereas he has been held in solitary confinement since August 2021; whereas his family has been denied systematically regular visits and could only visit him twice since his detention; whereas he suffers from health problems and does not have access to proper medical treatment; whereas he was already detained previously in the context of the Black Spring crackdown against dissidents in 2003;

 

1. Calls on the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the prisoner of conscience José Daniel Ferrer and all those political prisoners detained for exercising their human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; in this context and pending his release, urges the Cuban authorities to ensure that his basic human rights, including access to health care, are fully respected and that he is allowed to communicate with his family regularly;

 

2. Is concerned about the alarming human rights situation in Cuba, particularly for dissidents and human rights activists; calls on the Cuban government to protect human rights and to ensure the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, without discrimination based on political views; calls on the Cuban authorities to amend the current legislative framework, notably the Criminal Code, which has enabled the unlawful use of force by the security forces and arbitrary detentions of protesters;

 

3. Highlights the key and indispensable role played by human rights defenders in Cuba; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support José Daniel Ferrer and all the other victims of human rights violations and arbitrary detentions in Cuba;

 

4. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the EU Delegation in La Havana to publicly condemn the detention of José Daniel Ferrer and call for his immediate release; calls on the Cuban authorities to grant unhindered access to EU institutions, human rights organisations and international organisations, including the UNHRC, so that they can closely monitor the condition detentions of José Daniel Ferrer and the rest of the political prisoners in the island;

 

5. Calls on the Government of Cuba to comply with its human rights obligations under the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement and the international human rights treaties that Cuba has adhered to; underlines the importance of holding regular human rights dialogues between the EU and Cuba with the full participation of independent Cuban civil society organisations;

 

6. Calls on the US to lift the embargo imposed against Cuba and to remove Cuba from the list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism”;

 

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP and the Government and National Assembly of Cuba.