Situation of human rights in Cuba.

1992/61.
Situation of human rights in Cuba

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 1991/68 of 6 March 1991, in which it requested the Secretary-General to appoint a special representative to maintain direct contact with the Government and citizens of Cuba and, in accordance with its decision 1989/113 of 9 March 1989 and resolution 1990/48 of 6 March 1990, to report on the issues and questions contained in and associated with the report (E/CN.4/1989/46 and Corr.1) of the mission to Cuba which took place in accordance with its decision 1988/106 of 10 March 1988, Recognizing with deep appreciation the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to carry out this mandate, bearing in mind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in maintaining contact with the Government and citizens of Cuba concerning the unanswered issues and questions that the representatives of the Commission formulated to the Cuban authorities (E/CN.4/1989/46, annexes III, VII and XVI), Disappointed that the Government of Cuba has failed to address the concerns of the Commission, as expressed in its decision 1989/113 and resolutions 1990/48 and 1991/68, and has not provided the Commission with a response to the unanswered questions put to the Cuban authorities by representatives of the Commission, Noting with deep regret the failure of the Government of Cuba to cooperate with the Commission by refusing, in spite of repeated requests, to permit the Special Representative to visit Cuba in order to fulfil the mandate entrusted to him, Alarmed at continuing reports of human rights abuses in Cuba, including imprisonment, harassment and governmentally organized mob attacks on advocates of peaceful change, as well as the recent execution by firing squad of one individual after a trial which raised questions of due process and in spite of worldwide appeals for clemency, Profoundly concerned at numerous uncontradicted reports of continued violations in Cuba of human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in such areas as individual liberty, administration of justice, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, expression and the press, freedom of assembly and association and freedom of education and conscience, Taking note of the report on the situation of human rights in Cuba prepared by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1992/27),

1. Commends and endorses the report on the situation of human rights in Cuba prepared by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;

2. Notes that the report is incomplete because the Special Representative was unable to meet with the people or the Government of Cuba;

3. Deplores the decision of the Government of Cuba not to give the Special Representative the opportunity to fulfil his mandate by meeting with the people of Cuba in Cuba and with the Government of Cuba, and expresses particular concern that the Government of Cuba, a member of the Commission on Human Rights, has failed to carry out its obligation, common to all Member States, to cooperate with the Commission;

4. Regrets Profoundly the numerous uncontested reports of violations of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms that are described in the report of the Special Representative and expresses particular concern at governmentally organized mob action against human rights activists;

5. Calls upon the Government of Cuba to respect universally recognized standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to promote their exercise and enjoyment, and to end all such violations, including the detention and imprisonment of those who advocate peaceful change;

6. Requests the Chairman of the Commission at its forty-eighth session to designate the Special Representative appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to its resolution 1991/68 as its Special Rapporteur to review and report on the situation of human rights in Cuba;

7. Requests the Special Rapporteur to maintain direct contact with the Government and citizens of Cuba, in accordance with Commission resolution 1991/68 and decision 1989/113, concerning the issues and questions contained in and associated with the report of the mission to Cuba as well as the report of the Special Representative;

8. Urges the Government of Cuba to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur;

9. Requests the Special Rapporteur to carry out his mandate, including the questions contained in his letter of 6 December 1991 (E/CN.4/1992/27, annex III and appendix), to the Cuban authorities, bearing in mind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to report to the Commission at its forty-ninth session on the results of his endeavours pursuant to the present resolution under the same agenda item, and to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session.

52nd meeting
3 March 1992
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 23 to 8,
with 21 abstentions. See chap. XII.]
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