The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) condemns Cuban authorities’ prohibition of women’s rights activists to leave the country, as well as grave violations of their human rights.

The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) condemns Cuban authorities’ prohibition of women’s rights activists to leave the country, as well as grave violations of their human rights.

On December 5, several Cuban activists from various organizations were denied exit from the country by authorities. While some were explicitly informed that they were “regulated” – the term used by State Security to prohibit activists and independent journalists from leaving the country – others were sent to the Citizenship Office.

State Security went to the home of Madelyn Rodríguez Martin, a lawyer from the Consejería Jurídica e Instrucción Cívica (Legal Counseling and Civic Education), and threatened her. Captain Otoniel told her that he knew she was going to travel and that it was better not to go, that if she tried to leave her house they would detain her for 72 hours.

In the case of Irina León Valladares, an activist of the Movimiento Dignidad (Dignity Movement), Major Orestes Ayala of State Security showed up at her mother’s house, who suffers from hypertension, diabetes and other diseases, to warn her to tell Irina that she could not leave the country because she was regulated, and that they would only let her leave the country if she did not return. On December 6, Ms. León Valladares went to the Immigration Office, and there, was informed about the “regulation.”

Likewise, Neurelina Cardo Brizo, an activist from the Comité Ciudadanos por la Integración Racial–CIR (Citizens’ Committee for Racial Integration), was notified at home that she was regulated. Major Alejandro went to her house and informed her that she was regulated and cited to appear at the police station on December 6 at 10 am. He did not tell her why she was being regulated.

Another activist arrived at the airport and was told that she was forbidden to leave the country. While trying to investigate the reasons behind the ban, she was informed that she should go to the Citizenship Office in Santiago de Cuba.

None of the activists were informed of the reasons for which they were regulated or the reasons why they had been prevented from leaving the country. These State Security actions are part of an increase, in the last two months, of prohibitions by the Cuban State so that human rights activists or journalists cannot leave the country – acts that violate Cubans’ right to free circulation.

Race and Equality calls on the Cuban State to cease harassment against human rights activists and their families, and reminds the State that the defense of human rights is not a criminal act, and as a right established in several of the treaties ratified by Cuba, must be guaranteed. Likewise, we remind the State that human rights defenders play an active role in the full development of egalitarian societies and the defense of the rights of all human beings. Several international bodies have highlighted their fundamental role and the need of the Cuban State to protect and guarantee their rights.