Cuba denies existence of racial discrimination to the UN CERD Commitee

Cuba denies existence of racial discrimination to the UN CERD Commitee

Washington. Sept 16. 2018. On August 16, Cuba categorically denied the existence of racial discrimination in Cuba to the group of independent experts of the United Nations (UN) that form the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) during the review of Cuba under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The purpose of the review is for Cuba to present information on how it has implemented action plans to combat racial discrimination.

Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez represented Cuba at the review and stressed during his presentation on behalf of the Cuban state that Cuba does not have a structural or institutional racism problem. He also emphasized that in Cuba, racial and ethnic minorities do not experience any difference in treatment legally, politically, or socially and that the concepts of “Afro-Cuban” or “Afro-descendant” do not exist in Cuba because this population is not regarded as any different from the rest of the population. He stated that according to the results of the 2012 population census, 9.3% of the population identified as Afro-descendant because of the mixed heritage of the population. He explained that all citizens self-identify themselves as white, mixed or black just based on the color of their skin, but all are considered Cuban citizens with the same inherent rights and responsibilities. (You can read the full presentation of the Cuban representative here)

In response to the information presented, the CERD Committee issued its report of recommendations on August 31. In the report, the Committee finds that, contrary to the information presented by the Cuban state, the Afro-descendant population in Cuba continues to suffer from racism and structural discrimination as a result of the historical legacy of slavery. The report also concludes that this discrimination is demonstrated by and results in this population being unable to exercise economic, social, and cultural rights to the same extent as other Cubans. According to the report, the Committee is concerned about the challenges the Afro-descendant population faces in accessing the labor market; the low levels of Afro-descendants in decision-making positions, both in the public and private sector; and the disproportionate levels of poverty affecting this population.

In its list of recommendations, the CERD Committee also expresses great concern that the methodology used in the census does not result in objective information that accurately presents the racial composition of the country. In this regard, the Committee calls on the Cuban State to review its methodology for collecting demographic data in the census in order to design questions and strategies with the input of the Afro-descendant population that will result in their self-identification and generate more accurate results.

The CERD Committee report calls on the Cuban State to include a clear and explicit definition of racial discrimination in its Constitution, which is currently being updated.

The Committee also recommends that the State include a gender focus in its policies and strategies to combat racial discrimination in order to address the many forms of discrimination affect women, particularly Afro-descendant women, who face greater obstacles in accessing the labor market. The Committee also stressed the need to create as opportunities for women to participate in politics and to hold decision-making roles.

The CERD Committee condemned allegations of harassment, intimidation, and hostility against those who defend the rights of Afro-descendants.

Specifically, the CERD Committee’s Rapporteur for Cuba, Silvio Albuquerque, mentioned violations of the right to freedom of movement. Juan Antonio Madrazo, Coordinator of the Citizen’s Committee for Racial Integration (Comité Ciudadano por la Integración Racial), was prevented from leaving Cuba to participate in the review, and Roberto Mesa, Coordinator of the Black Brotherhood (Cofradia de la Negritud) was arbitrarily detained a few days before he was scheduled to travel. The representative for Cuban denied any acts of repression taking place against human rights defenders, instead asserting that these individuals pass themselves as human rights defenders but are mercenaries of the United States, paid to make false allegations of human rights violations. In its report, the CERD Committee laments the Cuban government’s denial of these violations and their failure to take measures necessary to investigate them and prevent them from occurring.

Race and Equality observes the statements presented by the Cuban government to the UN CERD Committee with great concern. The lack of specific and conclusive information provided by the government as well as its flat denial of the discrimination and human rights violations suffered by Afro-Cubans is further evidence that discrimination and structural racism are alive and well in the country.

Race and Equality thanks the CERD Committee for the recommendations offered to the Cuban government, which are to be implemented into the laws and policies of the country in order to effectively guarantee the protection of the human rights of all Afro-descendants in Cuba.

ECLAC monitors the 2020 Panama Census process and the participation of its Afro-descendant population

Washington, D.C. August 25, 2018. The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality), together with the National Secretariat for Afro-Panamanian Development (SENADAP), arranged for the participation of Fabiana Del Popolo, Demography Coordinator at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s (ECLAC) Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE), in a meeting of the Afro-Descendant Technical Group. The meeting was designed to provide support to and empower members of the Afro-Descendant Technical Group.

A working table meeting held on August 22, 2018 at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in City of Knowledge, Clayton, Panama, was convened by SENADAP Director Urenna Best. The meeting also included the participation of Joyce Morris of the National Institute for Statistics and Census’ (INEC) Population and Housing Section, and Elvia Duque, Program Officer for Race and Equality. During the meeting, Fabiana Del Popolo stressed the fact that Latin America is the region with the highest levels of ethnic/racial inequality in the world and that Afro-descendants are the most vulnerable ethnic/racial group. Additionally, she described historical statistics of Afro-descendants in the region, the role of the various international treaties, and the advocacy work done by Afro-descendant activists to increase the amount of disaggregated data statistics available by race/ethnicity. She also urged those present to closely monitor the State’s level of accountability to its Afro-descendant population, specifically in relation to the goals/standards of the UN Decade for People of African Descent, CEPAL’s “Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development” (2013), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2030). She also presented a disaggregated comparative analysis of the different methodologies and post-census results on Afro-descendant and indigenous populations in Latin America.

Members of the Afro-descendant Technical Group were very interested in Ms. Del Popolo’s analysis, which described other census processes such as those in Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela as successful examples to follow. However, she stressed that “there is no perfect question,” referring to the drafting of a self-identification question for Afro-descendants. She explained that the context of these countries is different than that of Panama, but that they present similar challenges that have been overcome thanks to the empowerment of and increase in participation of civil society during the entire census process, as well as the technical support from data experts.

Ms. Del Popolo explained that experiences such as the 2010 Census in Panama must be observed and analyzed as a whole. The analysis should not just yield information on the population percentages but must also produce information on the inequality gaps reflected in these figures. This information will form the basis for advocacy tools that can be used to demand public policies in favor of the Afro-descendant population. In this respect, she noted that “we must be clear in what we are trying to measure with a census – whether it’s diversity or inequality of a populational group in particular, or other aspects.”

Similarly, the expert stressed the need to learn from other experiences, such as those of indigenous Colombians and the Afro-Peruvian population who, despite being minority groups, have generated strategies that have improved the position of their communities.

Ms. Joyce Morris of INEC presented an analysis of the background of the ethnic/racial self-identification question in Panama. She also presented, for the first time, an outline of the question and concepts that were to be included in the home surveys of August 26, 2018, which included changes requested by the Technical Group.

The session was concluded by highlighting the advances made in the 2020 Census in Panama, which features the elimination of filter questions that lead to the Afro-descendant self-identification question. She also stressed the need for the Afro-descendant Technical Group to receive proper permanent technical support. Race and Equality wishes to continue to contribute sustainable strategies to support the 2020 pre-census, census, and post-census processes.

Ms. Del Popolo also participated as a featured panelist at Casa Amarilla, a Presidential complex where, in front of Afro-Panamanian activists, she spoke about prior census experiences from Latin America which included the ethnic/racial self-identification question. She highlighted the importance of having an Afro-Panamanian Technical Group as the first step in aligning the goals of the Afro-Panamanian population with the INEC and other key entities of the 2020 census process. In her presentation, she also urged the public to find out more about the Technical Group and to support its work.

Elvia Duque stressed Race and Equality’s commitment to coordinate with SENADAP and support the Afro-descendant Technical Working Group during its interactions with the INEC and other government institutions. She also highlighted the need to create a roadmap that will allow them to focus on the goals and steps to follow. She stressed the Technical Working Group’s commitment to thoroughly examining the results of the 2010 Census and the subsequent household surveys in order to ensure that the 2020 Census reflects the reality of the Afro-Panamanian population.

SO THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND INCLUDED! Today We Commemorate the International Day for Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora Women

July 25 marks the International Day for Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora Women. The commemorative date was established in 1992 after a meeting in the Dominican Republic of more than 400 women from diverse Latin American countries, where they analyzed the consequences of racism and sexism in the region. The meeting also provided a space for attendees to articulate joint actions and remember historic struggles to combat these issues.

On this day we remember that the fight to bring down the humiliations caused by discrimination, poverty, and violence is ongoing. Participatory spaces are closed off because of racist and discriminatory logic against women and Afro-descendants which prevail. Women from the region continue to be the victims of a hostile war committed to condemn their voices and their chants, to violate their bodies, and take away their children.

It is important to remember that Afro-descendant women’s organizations have undertaken a lot of efforts to achieve recognition and participation in decision-making spaces. Because of this, we urge all states to promote affirmative actions in favor of including Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora voices in spaces that will permit the promotion of effective public policies that guarantee rights and severely condemn all types of ethnic or racial discrimination.

Today we rise up in resistance for the women suffering the war and apathy in Nicaragua, for the harassment and repression against women in Colombia, especially those who are persecuted for leading life in the territories. We rise up for those women who are not recognized and who are discriminated against in Peru; for the violence and harassment against trans women in Brazil; for the voices of the women in Panama; for the recognition of the rights of all women in the region. We will continue fighting so that our voices are heard, included.

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