OSAC Crime & Safety Report
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Cuba 2019 OSAC Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Havana. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Cuba. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s country-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory Level for Cuba at the date of this report’s publication remains at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Travelers should exercise increased caution in Cuba due to demonstrable and sometimes debilitating injuries to members of the U.S. diplomatic community resulting in the drawdown of embassy staff. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. In general, restricted internet, the government’s tight control of media, and its sensitivity to any news that reflects poorly on Cuba results in a continued lack of reliable information about Cuban atmospherics. Travel to Cuba for tourist activity remains prohibited by statute. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) continues to issue general licenses for twelve (12) categories of travel to Cuba. Individuals who meet the regulatory conditions of the general license they seek to travel under do not need to apply for a specific license from OFAC to travel to Cuba. Please see 31 C.F.R. 515.560 and OFAC’s Frequently Asked Questions. There is a prohibition on direct financial transactions with certain entities in Cuba. The U.S. Department of State maintains a list of entities and sub-entities under the control of, or acting for or on behalf of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services or personnel with which direct financial transactions would disproportionately benefit such services or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people or private enterprise in Cuba. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The security environment in Cuba is relatively stable, and characterized by a strong military and police presence. Unannounced and non-government sanctioned demonstrations/protests are infrequent but can incite violence and lead to arrests. The Government of Cuba places travel restrictions within Cuba on U.S. Government officials. The Government of Cuba typically prevents diplomatic officers from traveling outside of Havana without advanced notice and approval. These travel restrictions can delay the availability of consular services outside of Havana. Travelers should plan itineraries with the knowledge that the U.S. Government may have very limited ability to provide immediate emergency assistance. Cuba 2019 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Havana as being a MEDIUM -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The threat exhibits a potential threat to U.S. assets based on knowledge of an adversary's desire to compromise assets, and the possibility that the adversary could obtain the capability to carry out criminal behavior through a third party who has demonstrated such a capability. Obtaining official and reliable crime statistics from the Government of Cuba remains nearly impossible. The U.S. Embassy receives several reports per month of crimes against U.S. and other foreign nationals present in Cuba. Most reported offenses occur in areas foreigners frequent. The number of reported criminal incidents appears to increase proportionally with the increasing number of visitors to Cuba. These proportional increases also appear consistent with reporting from other diplomatic missions resident in Cuba. Anecdotally, crime directed towards visitors largely falls into petty crime areas such as pickpocketing, purse snatching, fraud schemes, and crimes of opportunity (e.g. theft from unoccupied/unsecured vehicles, hotel rooms, and casas particulares). Cubans generally perceive Western travelers, including U.S. nationals, to be more affluent than they are, making travelers lucrative and vulnerable targets for criminal activity. Review OSAC’s report, All That You Should Leave Behind. There were reported incidents of violent crimes, to include sexual violence, involving and against U.S. nationals in 2019. These acts typically occurred away from visitor cluster zones and involved intimate partner violence or family members or caregivers. Areas of Concern Hotels and casas particulares catering to Western travelers remain relatively safe. Visitor cluster zones such as accommodations, city centers, commercial outlets, bars, restaurants, points of interest, and airports are all potential areas of encounter for victims and offenders. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Cuba has an active and legal commercial sex trade. As of June 2019, the Government of Cuba continued to not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and is not making significant efforts to do so. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the Government of Cuba took some steps to address trafficking, including prosecuting sex traffickers and one labor trafficker, and imprisoning sex tourists engaged in child sex trafficking. Transportation-Safety Situation Travel by all forms of mobile conveyance in Cuba can present risks similar and dissimilar to those found in the U.S. Road accidents, many involving pedestrians and bicyclists, are Cuba’s leading cause of death. Cuba requires a driver’s license and adequate insurance to operate vehicles. Visitors should check with their travel provider or sponsor if they intend to operate a motor vehicle in Cuba. Cuba 2019 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Road Safety and Conditions Cuban roads and highways are often dangerous due to lack of road maintenance and advanced deterioration. Potholes, the absence of lighting, and livestock/animals make driving at night particularly dangerous. Cuban drivers tend to place large sticks or rocks in the road to indicate a hazard or disabled vehicle ahead. It is often difficult to see these markers until one has nearly entered the hazard zone. Although traffic is relatively light, the aggregate of speed, old vehicles, motorcycles, horse-drawn carts, buses, and pedestrians can quickly create significant traffic hazards when they otherwise would not exist. Many vehicles on the road in Cuba do not obtain required or recommended safety inspections, service, or maintenance. Poor maintenance of vehicles―to include failure to replace burnt-out brake, tail, and headlights―can result in serious personal injury accidents or death for passengers and others on the road. Older vehicles also may not be equipped with standard vehicle safety packages expected of passenger conveyances. Police monitor road conditions, enforce traffic laws, and inspect vehicles at many intersections within urban and city centers. Generally, police will issue small fines to individuals they stop. Cuban law prescribes severe penalties for drivers involved in accidents. Regardless of fault, accidents involving significant injury or property damage can result in the detention of foreign drivers. Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Aviation In October 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation suspended until further notice scheduled air service between the United States and Cuban international airports other than Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV). The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Cuba’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. On a case-by- case basis, the U.S. Embassy will permit travel by U.S. government officials on Cuban air carriers, including the Cuban national airline Cubana de Aviación (CUBANA). In 2019, the ICAO rated Cuba’s overall safety capabilities and the status of its implementation of all safety- relevant ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, associated procedures, guidance material, and best safety practices at 92.64%. ICAO rated the airworthiness of civil aircraft at 87.5%; air navigation services at 99.4%; and accident and serious incident investigations at 88.46%. For more information, please review OSAC’s report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Cuba 2019 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Terrorism Threat The U.S. Department of State has assessed Havana as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. A low threat exhibits little or no threat as a result of the absence of credible evidence of capability, intent, or history of actual or planned attacks against U.S. assets. On May 29, 2015, the Secretary of State removed Cuba from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence The U.S. Department of State has assessed Havana as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government. A low threat exhibits little or no threat as a result of the absence of credible evidence of capability, intent, or history of actual or planned attacks against U.S. assets. Government-organized actions against domestic civil society and opposition groups can turn violent. Visitors