Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12253 | 11 May 2010

Violations of human rights in Cuba

Signatories: Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Ms Karmela CAPARIN, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Mr Mustafa DZHEMILIEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr György FRUNDA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Ana GUŢU, Republic of Moldova, ALDE ; Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Mr Mladen IVANIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPP/CD ; Mr Bakir IZETBEGOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPP/CD ; Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Mr Silver MEIKAR, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Ronan MULLEN, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Mr Gebhard NEGELE, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD ; Ms Marija PEJČINOVIĆ-BURIĆ, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Ms Lajla PERNASKA, Albania, EPP/CD ; Ms Marijana PETIR, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Ms Marietta de POURBAIX-LUNDIN, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Rati SAMKURASHVILI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Mr Leander SCHÄDLER, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD ; Mr Latchezar TOSHEV, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Luca VOLONTÈ, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Andrej ZERNOVSKI, ''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'', ALDE ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Parliamentary Assembly condemns the repression of political dissidents in Cuba and urges that state’s authorities to end their "iron fist" policy against the local population.

Recent events, such as the death of dissident Orlando Zapata and the suppression of some protests, show that the situation in the country is not improving. The Government of Cuba continues its ‘iron fist’ policy, rather than starting a new era in which the rule of law, democracy and human rights are respected and promoted.

The Assembly supports the will of the people in Cuba and worldwide and calls for an end to repression, the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba, and respect for the fundamental rights of the Cuban population. In accordance with the founding principles of the Council of Europe, the Assembly is determined to support Cubans’ desire to decide on their own future and to take advantage of universal rights and freedoms.

The Assembly calls on member governments of the Council of Europe to use all diplomatic initiatives to support the Cuban people in their struggle for human rights and democratic freedoms.