U.S. Blockade Violates the Cuban People's Human Rights -
Statement by Quebec Organizations on International Human Rights Day -
December 10, 2020. Cuban
consulate in Montreal on Human Rights Day.
On the
occasion of December 10, 2020, International Human Rights Day,
organizations in Quebec are calling for condemnation of the United
States' flagrant and massive violation of the Cuban people's human
rights through its imposed economic, financial and commercial blockade.
The U.S. embargo has been imposed since 1962 and has been rejected
every year since then by most of the international community at the
United Nations General Assembly.  Over the last 60
years, the United States has imposed an inhumane blockade on Cuba based
on economic sanctions including financial controls, the suspension of
aid and technical assistance, the freezing of the Cuban state's
financial assets, the imposition of a boycott on transactions of all
kinds, along with sanctions on foreign companies involved in trade with
Cuba.
Today, in the midst of a global crisis caused
by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has tested the capacity of
all states in guaranteeing the health of their citizens, Cuba has
succeeded in controlling the pandemic thanks to its universal and free
health care system, its preparedness in the fight against epidemics and
natural disasters, and its development of the biotechnology industry.
During a virtual summit of the G20 countries at the end of
March, UN Secretary General António Guterres and UN human
rights experts expressed the need to lift economic sanctions against
countries suffering from this scourge, to avoid a health crisis.
The United States has not responded to the call to relax the
blockade against Cuba. To the contrary, the U.S. administration has
tightened its sanctions by hitting at the Cuban economy overall, making
it impossible to find commercial partners and carry out financial
transactions. During the pandemic, this makes it all the more difficult
to acquire sanitary equipment and food to adequately care for the Cuban
people.  However, despite
this illegal blockade, Cuba has been able to respond to the World
Health Organization's call, in the spirit of unity and solidarity, to
intensify cooperation and collaboration at all levels in order to
contain and control the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its impact. Upon
request, Cuba has sent teams of doctors and support personnel from the
Henry Reeve International Cuban Medical Brigade Specialized in Disaster
Situations and Serious Epidemics to over 40 countries and territories.
Since 2005, the brigade has carried out over 60 missions on four
continents by providing the humanitarian expertise of 9,000 health
professionals.
We, the signatories of this
declaration, condemn attempts by the United States government to
manipulate the human rights issue. In November alone, the U.S.
Administration added $1 million for its projects of subversion and
internal interference in Cuba. This same funding is being used to
organize and encourage groups and individuals in different countries
with diplomatic representation. The signatories of
this declaration will continue to maintain ties of friendship with Cuba
through the strengthening of official relations which Cuba and Canada
have maintained since 1945. It should be noted that Canada and Mexico
were the only two countries in this hemisphere that did not break off
relations with Cuba after the triumph of the 1959 revolution.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, NO TO THE
BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA!
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 48 - December 12, 2020
Article Link:
U.S. Blockade Violates the Cuban People's Human Rights -
Statement by Quebec Organizations on International Human Rights Day
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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