December 17, 2021
The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) continues to continuously monitor the political and social situation in Cuba, with special attention to the condition of political prisoners imprisoned by the regime.
In this sense, the violation of their fundamental rights and their arbitrary detentions constitute a flagrant violation of human rights in the country, which goes against all international instruments on the matter.
For this reason, the General Secretariat of the OAS demands once again the immediate release of all political prisoners who are arbitrarily imprisoned, while stressing that it is essential to remain attentive to the evolution of their health conditions and physical integrity.
In this context, special concern is expressed for the integrity of José Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), a political prisoner of the regime, and whose health appears to have deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks.
Ferrer is confined to a small walled cell, without any contact with people other than the guards who guard him and without access to natural light. His reported breathing problems, vision loss and other issues have been attributed to the inhumane conditions where he is detained for exercising his legitimate civil and political rights.
The OAS General Secretariat urges Cuba to immediately allow a visit to the country by a Humanitarian Mission of the universal and/or inter-American system for the protection of Human Rights that can verify the state and situation of political prisoners in the country.
The presence of a Humanitarian Mission is essential in a context such as the present one, and the General Secretariat will continue to monitor and remain alert to the existing situation.