Cubalex, ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America Office and Defiende Venezuela welcome the publication of the Resolution 14/2021, through which the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favor of 20 peoplentes or close to San Isidro Movement (MSI) of Cuba, considering that these are in a situation of gravity and urgency, since their rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of suffering irreparable damage.
The request for measures was submitted by the signatory organizations, dedicated to the defense and promotion of human rights, considering the seriousness of the events that occurred between November and December 2020 against human rights defenders, members of or close to the MSI, as a result of the protests they carried out following the arrest of musician Denis Solís, on November 9, 2020.
One of the actions carried out by the beneficiaries of the precautionary measures was to go on a hunger strike —some also thirsty— at the MSI headquarters, from where they were violently removed by members of the National Revolutionary Police, some detained for a few hours and others taken to their homes and placed under house arrest by not allowing them to leave. Days later, when the human rights defenders attempted to leave their homes and meet, exercising their right to assembly and demonstration, they were arrested and subjected to various violations of their rights, such as threats, torture, ill-treatment, and physical assaults, among others, on a systematic basis.
In light of this, the IACHR, after analyzing the allegations submitted by the applicant organizations, considered that the human rights defenders are in a situation of gravity and urgency, since their rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm. Therefore, in accordance with Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the IACHR, the Commission requests the State of Cuba to:
a) adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the 20 identified members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI). To this end, the State must both ensure that its agents respect the life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries, and protect their rights in relation to acts of risk attributable to third parties, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law;
b) adopt the necessary measures so that the beneficiaries can carry out their activities as human rights defenders without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation and harassment in the exercise of their work.;
c) agree on the measures to be taken with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and,
d) report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure and thus prevent their repetition.
While issuing these measures is very important to safeguard the rights of the beneficiaries, implementing them is fundamental not only for that safeguarding, but also as a message of political will on the part of the State, to recognize human rights defenders as subjects of rights and as valid interlocutors whose demands must be addressed, thereby opening the possibility of dialogue, generating agreements and achieving them.
Therefore, the organizations that subscribe to this statement will remain attentive to the implementation of these measures until their full satisfaction is achieved, a fact that in itself would open the way to dialogue, inclusion and the plurality of voices and ideas in Cuba, marking a turning point in the relationship of the State of Cuba with independent civil society.
Compliance with the precautionary measures of the IACHR in favor of the MSI would mark a turning point in the relationship between the Cuban State and independent civil society.
Cubalex, ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America Office and Defiende Venezuela welcome the publication of the Resolution 14/2021, through which the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favor of 20 peoplentes or close to San Isidro Movement (MSI) of Cuba, considering that these are in a situation of gravity and urgency, since their rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of suffering irreparable damage.
The request for measures was submitted by the signatory organizations, dedicated to the defense and promotion of human rights, considering the seriousness of the events that occurred between November and December 2020 against human rights defenders, members of or close to the MSI, as a result of the protests they carried out following the arrest of musician Denis Solís, on November 9, 2020.
One of the actions carried out by the beneficiaries of the precautionary measures was to go on a hunger strike —some also thirsty— at the MSI headquarters, from where they were violently removed by members of the National Revolutionary Police, some detained for a few hours and others taken to their homes and placed under house arrest by not allowing them to leave. Days later, when the human rights defenders attempted to leave their homes and meet, exercising their right to assembly and demonstration, they were arrested and subjected to various violations of their rights, such as threats, torture, ill-treatment, and physical assaults, among others, on a systematic basis.
In light of this, the IACHR, after analyzing the allegations submitted by the applicant organizations, considered that the human rights defenders are in a situation of gravity and urgency, since their rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm. Therefore, in accordance with Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the IACHR, the Commission requests the State of Cuba to:
a) adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the 20 identified members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI). To this end, the State must both ensure that its agents respect the life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries, and protect their rights in relation to acts of risk attributable to third parties, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law;
b) adopt the necessary measures so that the beneficiaries can carry out their activities as human rights defenders without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation and harassment in the exercise of their work.;
c) agree on the measures to be taken with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and,
d) report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure and thus prevent their repetition.
While issuing these measures is very important to safeguard the rights of the beneficiaries, implementing them is fundamental not only for that safeguarding, but also as a message of political will on the part of the State, to recognize human rights defenders as subjects of rights and as valid interlocutors whose demands must be addressed, thereby opening the possibility of dialogue, generating agreements and achieving them.
Therefore, the organizations that subscribe to this statement will remain attentive to the implementation of these measures until their full satisfaction is achieved, a fact that in itself would open the way to dialogue, inclusion and the plurality of voices and ideas in Cuba, marking a turning point in the relationship of the State of Cuba with independent civil society.