If you or a family member are being repressed in Cuba, we can help. We document your case, provide free legal guidance, and support you throughout the process so your voice reaches those with the power to act. Tell us what's happening.
This service is for you if you or someone you know is facing repression and needs free legal guidance.
We do not advise on the immigration laws of any country: We are experts in Cuban legal frameworks and in the context of repression on the island.
Service exclusive to Cuban citizens: Expert opinions are provided only to individuals of Cuban nationality.
We do not assist in the preparation of immigration forms nor provide legal representation before immigration authorities. We also do not certify the veracity of the facts or documents submitted.
Summons: verify legitimacy by examining the issuing authority, the official seal, and the stated reason before responding.
Criminal proceedings: seek legal advice immediately if you face criminal proceedings. Do not wait.
Demand identification: you have the right to request the officer's identification and the corresponding legal order before cooperating.
Document everything: take a photo of the document or of the officer's identification if you can. That evidence can protect you.
Inform your family: keep trusted people informed of any summons or detention.
Keep a record: note dates, names, and details of every encounter with the authorities. A clear timeline is your best defense.
Before leaving: leave evidence of your intention to demonstrate peacefully (a video, a message, or a comment to someone you trust) and avoid carrying objects that could be interpreted as weapons. Bring only your ID and mobile phone.
Know your right: Article 56 of the Cuban Constitution recognizes the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration, also supported by international human rights standards. However, in practice, this right is not guaranteed. The Cuban Criminal Code (Articles 274-275) even penalizes participation in "unauthorized" demonstrations as a crime against public order, which means that exercising this right can directly lead to criminal proceedings, even when peaceful.
During the demonstration: avoid becoming involved in any violent act and leave the area if you see violence being used, to prevent unfounded and generalized criminal charges.
Document everything: record any interaction with the authorities using your phone. This is part of your right to document human rights violations, and that evidence can be your best defense against irregularities.
If you are detained: do not resist, raise your hands, remain silent, and do not answer questions without first speaking to your lawyer. Remaining silent is your right and your best protection in that moment.
If you were detained: demand to contact your family and a lawyer before giving any statement. Do not sign any documents or minutes Even if they tell you it's just a simple procedure, don't understand its contents. Write down (or ask a family member to write down) dates, names or badge numbers of the officers, the place of detention, and all the details of what happened as soon as possible.
Seek legal support: contact Cubalex if you face any proceedings resulting from your participation. We can assist and stand alongside you throughout the process, free of charge and confidentially.
Document your physical condition: if you suffered blows, mistreatment, or any injury during detention, request a medical examination and ask that the date and injuries be recorded in writing. That documentation is the foundation for any subsequent complaint of mistreatment or torture.
If you do not know where your family member is: the family can file a Habeas Corpus petition before the competent court to demand that the authorities disclose the person's whereabouts and produce them. Cubalex can help you draft and file it.
This course is an invitation to look at the world from a different perspective: that of the human dignity. It's not about distant theories or complicated words; human rights are in the everyday, in the way we speak, work, give our opinions, love, and dream.
With the sponsorship of several donors such as Civil Rights Defenders, Cubalex has designed this project whose purpose is for you to learn to recognize and analyze situations in which human rights are violated in your community or in the country, according to international standards, as well as to document cases of violations, to use national protection mechanisms - despite their inefficiency - and to file complaints both nationally and internationally.
