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Cuba: EU Should Insist on Real Rights Progress

The European Union should make normalizing economic relations with Cuba contingent on Cuba’s meaningful progress on human rights, Human Rights Watch said today as EU foreign ministers meet to consider dropping measures imposed in 2003. Meaningful progress…
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Cuba: Three Dissidents Freed, Many More Still Held

Despite Recent Releases, Incarceration of Political Prisoners Continues

The Cuban government should follow the release of three dissidents by freeing other political prisoners, Human Rights Watch said today. The three dissidents were granted parole and released from prison this morning. “Cuba’s release of these political…
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U.S.: Makeshift Process of Military Commissions Imperils Justice

Poor Interpretation, Panel Bias Highlight Flaws

The military commission proceedings against the first four detainees at Guantanamo Bay were mired in confusion because of fundamentally flawed legal procedures and inadequate interpreters, Human Rights Watch said today. The military commissions, held in…
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Cuba: Release Political Dissidents

Cuba’s trial and sentencing of a blind human rights lawyer and nine other dissidents violates their rights to freedom of expression, association and liberty, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called for their immediate and unconditional…
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Cuba: Trial Violates Dissidents’ Right to Free Expression

Cuba’s planned trial of a blind human rights lawyer, along with nine other dissidents and independent journalists, on charges of “disrespect for authority” demonstrates a continuing pattern of political repression, Human Rights Watch said today. Human…
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Cuba: One Year After the Crackdown

A Joint Statement by Freedom House, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations on the first anniversary of the crackdown on peaceful dissent in Cuba Exactly one year ago, on March 18, 2003, the Cuban government launched a…
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Cuba: Human Rights and US Policy

Statement by Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director

Thank you for your invitation to address the human rights situation in Cuba and to discuss U.S. policy towards that country. Human Rights Watch has been monitoring human rights conditions in Cuba for more than 15 years. Severe political repression has…
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Havana's Obstruction of Freedom

NEW YORK -- Few doubt that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is faltering in its mission. With Libya as its chair, and China, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe among its voting members, it is hardly surprising that many of the world's most flagrant…
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Havana's Obstruction of Freedom

Published in The International Herald Tribune Few doubt that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is faltering in its mission. With Libya as its chair, and China, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe among its voting members, it is hardly surprising that…
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U.N.: Human Rights Elections Flawed

Cuba, Russia Assured Seat on Commission

This week's elections to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights are likely to deepen the membership crisis of the world's highest human rights body, Human Rights Watch warned today. On April 29 and 30, the U.N. Economic and Social Council will…
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U.N. Rights Body In Serious Decline

(Geneva) - This year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has proved even more disappointing than last year, Human Rights Watch said on the last day of the six-week meeting in Geneva.     An "abusers club" of governments hostile to…
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U.N.: Setback on Human Rights Votes

Defeat of Key Resolutions at Geneva Commission

(Geneva) – The United Nations Commission on Human Rights today condemned some of the world’s worst human rights violators, but let others off the hook, Human Rights Watch said. Resolutions were rejected on the situation in Chechnya (15 yes, 21 no, 17…
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Cuba: Heavy Sentences Are "Totally Unjustified"

Rights Group Calls on U.N. to Condemn Crackdown

The heavy sentences imposed against non-violent Cuban dissidents are unjustified and draconian, Human Rights Watch said today. Defendants received sentences ranging from twelve to twenty-five years of imprisonment. "These harsh prison sentences are…
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U.N.: 'Who's Who" of Human Rights Abuse

(Geneva) -- The United Nations Commission on Human Rights risks being turned into a "who's who" of abusive governments if several candidates for membership are elected later this month, Human Rights Watch warned today. Of the 53 members of the commission…
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Cuba: Unfair Trials of Nonviolent Dissidents

The trials of nonviolent Cuban dissidents that began this morning should be halted immediately, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch also called on the Cuban government to drop all charges against the defendants. The ongoing trials are the…
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U.N.: Key Human Rights Resolutions May Fail

(Geneva) Several important resolutions censuring repressive governments may fail at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights this month, Human Rights Watch warned today. The U.N. body, now holding its annual six-week session in Geneva, will begin…
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Cuba: Release Dissidents Now

The Cuban government should immediately and unconditionally release the political dissidents and independent journalists who have been detained in the last several days, Human Rights Watch said today. The Cuban government has arrested scores of dissidents…
News

Time to End the U.S. Embargo on Cuba

President George Bush should terminate the economic embargo on Cuba, Human Rights Watch said today. Describing the embargo as a failed policy, Human Rights Watch said that it imposes indiscriminate hardship on the Cuban people and impedes democratic…
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Cuba: Carter's Historic Opportunity

Former President Jimmy Carter should speak out boldly about the need for human rights reform in Cuba, Human Rights Watch said today. As part of his five-day visit to the island, Carter will hold several meetings with Cuban President Fidel Castro, and…