MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the human rights situation in Cuba
13.11.2018 - (2018/2926(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Javier Couso Permuy, João Pimenta Lopes, Sofia Sakorafa, Neoklis Sylikiotis, Takis Hadjigeorgiou, Patrick Le Hyaric, Sabine Lösing, Merja Kyllönen, Paloma López Bermejo, João Ferreira, Miguel Viegas, Nikolaos Chountis, Ángela Vallina, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Stelios Kouloglou, Kostadinka Kuneva, Eleonora Forenza on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the UN Charter;
- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights treaties and instruments,
- having regard to Chapter 1, Article 1(2) of the UN Charter of 1945, with its stated purpose ‘to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace’;
- having regard to Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
- having regard to the principle of non-intervention laid down in the UN Charter;
- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948;
- having regard to the UN Resolutions approved by the its General Assembly on the Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, namely the last one A/73/L.3;
- having regard to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part (12504/2016)
- having regard to the "Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace", signed in Havana by the Heads of States and Government on the occasion of the 2nd Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in 2014.
- having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure;
A. whereas the US economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba, which has almost 60 years, continues to harm dramatically the situation of the Cuban people;
B. whereas the accumulated economic losses suffered by the Cuban people as a result of the US economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba during almost 60 years amount to 933 678 millions USD taking into account the depreciation of the dollar against the value of gold. Calculated at current prices, the blockade has caused damages for more than 134 thousand 499 million 800 thousand USD according to estimates of the Cuban Government. Only in the last year, it caused to Cuba losses in the order of 4 thousand 321 million 200 thousand USD;
C. whereas that the current US Administration reinforced its aggressive and provocative policy against Cuba and row back on the agreement made by the previous US Administration and Cuba;
D. whereas the extraterritorial application of the blockade has also intensified, contributing for losses to Cuba but also for other countries in the world;
E. Whereas since more than 20 years the General Assembly of United Nations has voted almost unanimously to condemn the US blockade against Cuba; whereas this year only US and Israel voted against it.
F. whereas the blockade is contrary to the UN Charter and to the International Law, and its extraterritorial application damages the sovereignty of all States;
G. whereas the United States continue to occupy illegally the territory of Guantánamo;
H. whereas the PDCA between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part ended with the EU Common Position on Cuba and has contributed to the normalization and to the development of beneficial ties between the parties;
I. whereas Cuba features among the 50 countries that have ratified the most international human rights instruments, Cuba has signed 44 of the 61 human rights conventions, making it one of the leaders in this field;
J. whereas Cuba continues to strengthen and refine its institutional framework and its legal system, with amendments and proposals that meet the needs of Cuban society and the relevant international standards. As part of the process of modernizing the Cuban model of economic and social development, a considerable number of laws and regulations have been revised, updated and amended, while others are under review;
K. whereas on civil and political rights in Cuba is assured: the right to life, the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs; the right to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly; the right to access to information through information and communication technologies (ICT); the right to equality and non-discrimination; the women’s rights; the rights of the children; the rights of the older’s persons; the rights of persons with disabilities; among others rights;
L. whereas on economic, social and cultural rights in Cuba is assured: the right to health with a public, universal and free health system; the right to education with a public, universal and free education system; the right to work and social security; the right to food; the right to adequate housing;
M. whereas on women’s rights Cuba promotes actively equality between women and men namely full equality, in all spheres of economic, political and social development. Women enjoy full rights, on an equal footing with men, in regard to jobs and social security, in accordance with the legislation in force. Women receive equal pay for work of equal value; they have the right to own land and receive bank loans. They have access to free education and quality health services, as well as sexual and reproductive rights. Policies and programmes have been introduced to promote women’s autonomy and their economic, social and political empowerment. Women have the right to free and responsible choice regarding fertility and abortion; the procedure is performed by highly qualified medical personnel in health institutions, always with the woman’s consent. Family planning services are available through primary health care and specialized gynaecological services for adolescents;
N. whereas according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women hold 48.86 per cent of seats in Parliament; Cuba is in fourth place worldwide and second place in the Western Hemisphere in terms of female representatives. Ten of the 15 provinces of Cuba have a female head of Government. At present, 14 women are members of the State Council, representing 45.16 per cent of its membership. Two of the five Vice-Presidents of the Council of State are women;
O. whereas Cuba has made undeniable progress in promoting gender equality, making it a regional leader in Latin America and the Caribbean;
P. whereas Cuba is developing an ongoing educational strategy to promote respect for freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity. The actions planned include educational strategies, promotion of academic work and scientific research, legal orientation services, sex therapy, care for LGBTI persons and victims of gender violence and child sexual abuse, development of community programmes and production of publications and audiovisual materials, as well as coordination of social networks, online discussions, campaigns to promote respect for freedom of sexual orientation.
Q. whereas one of the areas in which the greatest impact was made at the national and international levels was a 10-day series of workshops on combating homophobia and transphobia that was organized in the context of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. This event, which is held every year in Havana and in one provincial venue, includes critical actions aimed at promoting the right to sexual orientation and gender identity and providing opportunities for political and social activism, as well as for raising awareness and educating the public on these issues. The National Commission for Comprehensive Services to Transsexual Persons, which was established by the Ministry of Public Health, has done a commendable job in providing health services for these persons;
R. whereas Cuba is a champion in the promotion of international cooperation and solidarity. Cuba cooperates closely with many countries in the region and around the world. Projects are underway to promote and protect economic and social rights, especially the right to health and education. Cuba also provides technical cooperation in a number of different areas; this cooperation has benefited the most disadvantaged groups, including indigenous peoples, women and persons with disabilities in many developing countries. Since the beginning of the Cuban revolution and its collaborative efforts, more than a million Cubans have offered their services in 186 countries;
S. whereas cooperation in the health sector has been especially significant, given its humanitarian nature and the large-scale training of human resources promoted by Cuba. The following data illustrate the magnitude of Cuba’s cooperation in this area: more than 500 million patients were treated in medical centres; over 6.5 million lives were saved; over 2.9 million deliveries were attended; more than 10 million surgeries were performed. Cuban specialists have saved or improved the vision of 2,780,467 persons in several countries in the Operation Miracle programme under which free eye surgery has been provided to 3.4 million people in 34 countries. Approximately 49,000 Cuban health workers are active in 63 countries. Many of them have cooperated in two, three and more missions.
T. whereas Cuba began a constitutional reform process, a truly participatory and democratic exercise, through popular discussion of the draft which will eventually be approved in a referendum;
U. whereas that all peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development;
1. Denounces the spurious “instrumentalization” of human rights only for internal political ends by some political forces in the European Parliament;
2. Firmly reaffirms that Cuba is an example to many countries in the world regarding the defence, development and promotion of human rights;
3. Reiterates the call to the end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba;
4. Firmly condemns the permanent US administration provocative and aggressive measures and policies against Cuba;
5. Call for the development of measures and tools among countries to fight against the extraterritorial effects and consequences of the US blockade that seriously damages the sovereignty and interests of all countries;
6. Reiterates the need to respect the inalienable principle of territorial integrity and calls on the United States to return the illegally occupied territory of Guantánamo;
7. Welcomes the repeal of the EU Common Position on Cuba and its contribution for the normalization of the relations between Cuba and EU Member States;
8. Recalls the importance of the PDCA between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part as another important contribution to the normalization and to the development of beneficial ties between the Cuba and the EU Member States;
9. Reiterates the inalienable right of the peoples to conduct their own constitutional process free of any external interference and conditioning;
10. Reaffirms at the same time the inalienable right of peoples to choose their economic, political and social system without interference of any kind;
11. Reaffirms the right to peace, self-determination and development of the peoples;
12. Reaffirms solidarity with the Cuban people and its struggle to defend its Revolution, its sovereignty as an independent nation and the social achievements conquered in the last years;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the government and parliament of Cuba, to the UN Secretary General, to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, and the Latin American regional bodies including, ALBA and CELAC;