Population: 11,225,000
Capital: Havana
Political Rights: 7
Civil Liberties: 6
Status: Not Free
| Ten-Year Ratings Timeline for Year under Review (Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Status) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Under Review | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Rating | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,6,NF | 7,6,NF |
2009 Key Developments: In March 2009, President Raul Castro fired several prominent cabinet ministers amid a worsening economic crisis. Former leader Fidel Castro appeared to regain his health during the year and wrote frequent essays in the state press, sparking speculation that his renewed influence could slow Cuba's reform process. In November, noted blogger Yoani Sanchez reported being intimidated and beaten by suspected government agents. Cuban authorities in December arrested a U.S. contractor for distributing communications equipment to religious groups; he remained in detention without being formally charged.
Political Rights: Cuba is not an electoral democracy. Longtime president Fidel Castro and his brother, current president Raul Castro, dominate the one-party political system. The Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) controls all government entities from the national to the local level. All political organization outside the PCC is illegal. Political dissent, whether spoken or written, is a punishable offense, and dissidents frequently receive years of imprisonment for seemingly minor infractions. The absolute number of political prisoners in Cuba decreased slightly from 205 to 201 during 2009. Official corruption remains a serious problem.
Civil Liberties: Freedom of the press is sharply curtailed, and the media are controlled by the state and the PCC. The government considers the independent press to be illegal. Independent journalists are subjected to ongoing repression, including terms of hard labor and assaults by state security agents. Access to the internet remains tightly restricted, and it is difficult for most Cubans to connect in their homes. In 2009, Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez was denied a visa to receive a prestigious journalism award in the United States, and in November Sanchez reported that she and another opposition blogger, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, were forced into a car, beaten, and denounced as "counterrevolutionaries" by three men they assumed to be government agents. Cuba continues to employ authoritarian measures to control religious belief and expression. Churches are not allowed to conduct educational activities, and church-based publications are subject to censorship by the Office of Religious Affairs. The government restricts academic freedom. Teaching materials for subjects including mathematics and literature must contain ideological content. Limited rights of assembly and association are permitted under the constitution. However, as with other constitutional rights, they may not be "exercised against the existence and objectives of the Socialist State." The unauthorized assembly of more than three people is punishable with up to three months in prison and a fine. The Council of State, presided over by Raul Castro, serves as a de facto judiciary and controls both the courts and the judicial process as a whole. Freedom of movement and the right to choose one's residence and place of employment are severely restricted. Attempting to leave the island without permission is a punishable offense. Cuba has been ranked well on gender equality; about 40 percent of all women work, and they are well represented in most professions.
Disclaimer: © Freedom House, Inc. · All Rights Reserved
This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.