Cuba: Travel Regulations and Civil and Political Rights, August 2017

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Cuba: Travel Regulations and Civil and Political Rights, August 2017 BEREICH | EVENTL. ABTEILUNG | WWW.ROTESKREUZ.AT ACCORD - Austrian Centre for Country of Origin & Asylum Research and Documentation Cuba: Travel Regulations and Civil and Political Rights COI Compilation August 2017 This report serves the specific purpose of collating legally relevant information on conditions in countries of origin pertinent to the assessment of claims for asylum. It is not intended to be a general report on human rights conditions. The report is prepared within a specified time frame on the basis of publicly available documents as well as information provided by experts. All sources are cited and fully referenced. This report is not, and does not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed, or conclusive as to the merits of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Every effort has been made to compile information from reliable sources; users should refer to the full text of documents cited and assess the credibility, relevance and timeliness of source material with reference to the specific research concerns arising from individual applications. © Austrian Red Cross/ACCORD An electronic version of this report is available on www.ecoi.net. Austrian Red Cross/ACCORD Wiedner Hauptstraße 32 A- 1040 Vienna, Austria Phone: +43 1 58 900 – 582 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.redcross.at/accord TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Travel regulations .................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Implications of the change in political relations with the United States and migratory patterns ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1.1 Consequences of the abolition of the “Wet foot-Dry foot” policy ............................ 4 1.1.2 Government control measures towards the population ......................................... 12 1.2 Travel restrictions under “defense and national security” and “other reasons of public interest” grounds ...................................................................................................................... 21 1.3 Consequences following the return to Cuba of emigrated citizens or citizens having left by irregular means .................................................................................................................... 23 1.3.1 Becoming an emigrant, losing residency rights in Cuba, possible return ............... 24 1.3.2 Regaining residency rights ......................................................................................... 31 1.3.3 Returnees’ economic and social rights: Access to employment, education, healthcare, housing, ration cards ......................................................................................... 40 1.4 Authorisation to reside abroad for longer than 24 months ............................................ 44 1.5 Repercussions for family members of Cuban emigrants ................................................. 48 2 Civil and political rights ......................................................................................................... 50 2.1 Political dissidents .............................................................................................................. 50 2.1.1 Key actors and organisations of the political opposition and government critics .. 50 2.1.1.1 Political opposition.......................................................................................... 52 2.1.1.2 Human rights activists .................................................................................... 63 2.1.1.3 Government critics/persons with a public profile ......................................... 71 2.1.1.4 Media ............................................................................................................... 77 2.1.2 Actions considered as political opposition by the government ............................... 80 2.1.3 Political prisoners ....................................................................................................... 84 2.1.4 Human rights violations against political dissidents and government critics ......... 86 2.1.4.1 Actos de repudio (acts of repudiation), violence .......................................... 87 2.1.4.2 Arbitrary detention ......................................................................................... 88 2.1.4.3 Discrimination regarding employment .......................................................... 94 2.1.4.4 Harassment and discrimination ..................................................................... 97 2.1.4.5 Politically motivated trials and criminal prosecution .................................... 99 2.1.5 Repercussions for family members of political activists, political prisoners and human rights activists ......................................................................................................... 103 2.2 Military deserters and humanitarian mission deserters ................................................ 108 2.2.1 Military deserters ..................................................................................................... 108 2.2.1.1 Treatment upon return to Cuba................................................................... 110 2.2.1.2 Treatment of family members of military deserters ................................... 112 2.2.2 Humanitarian mission deserters.............................................................................. 113 2.2.2.1 Treatment upon return to Cuba................................................................... 115 2 2.2.2.2 Treatment of family members of humanitarian mission deserters ........... 119 2.3 Freedom of expression and thought ............................................................................... 120 2.3.1 General overview of the right to freedom of expression and thought ................. 120 2.3.2 Measures of repression and control of the press and media ................................ 124 2.3.2.1 Legal framework ........................................................................................... 124 2.3.2.2 Restricted internet access, media monopoly .............................................. 128 2.3.2.3 Blocking of websites and SMS, censorship .................................................. 130 2.3.3 Incidents of abuse and harassment of members of the press/media ................... 134 2.3.4 Surveillance of communication by the Cuban authorities ..................................... 139 2.4 Freedom of religion ......................................................................................................... 142 2.4.1 Treatment of members of religious communities .................................................. 145 2.5 Human rights activists and organisations ....................................................................... 152 2.5.1 Government attitude towards NGOs and human rights organisations................. 152 2.5.2 Treatment of members of NGOs and human rights organisations by the state .. 157 2.6 Individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI) ...................... 165 2.6.1 Treatment of individuals of diverse SOGI by state actors ...................................... 165 2.6.1.1 General state attitude towards SOGI and role of Mariela Castro and the National Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX) ......................................................... 165 2.6.1.2 Criticism of CENESEX and Mariela Castro .................................................... 167 2.6.1.3 Legislation, government services ................................................................. 173 2.6.1.4 Treatment by law enforcement authorities ................................................ 177 2.6.2 Treatment of individuals of diverse SOGI by members of society ......................... 179 2.6.2.1 General attitude ............................................................................................ 179 2.6.2.2 Discrimination (employment, health, education), harassment.................. 182 2.6.2.3 Killings, attacks .............................................................................................. 185 Sources ........................................................................................................................................ 189 3 1 Travel regulations 1.1 Implications of the change in political relations with the United States and migratory patterns 1.1.1 Consequences of the abolition of the “Wet foot-Dry foot” policy The Congressional Research Service (CRS), a research service for the US Congress, discusses in a report of May 2017 the abolishment of the “Wet foot-Dry foot” Policy and its implications for Cubans: “In its final days in office, the Obama Administration announced another major Cuba policy shift. On January 12, 2017, the United States ended the so-called ‘wet foot/dry foot’ policy under which thousands of undocumented Cuban migrants entered the United States in recent years. (Under that policy, those Cuban migrants interdicted at sea generally were returned to Cuba whereas those reaching U.S. land were allowed entrance into the United States and generally permitted to stay.) Under the new policy, as announced by President Obama and then-Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Cuban nationals who attempt to enter the United States illegally and do not qualify for humanitarian relief are now subject to removal. The Cuban government
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