To promote a peaceful transition to a Cuba that respects human rights
and political and economic freedoms
Reporters Without Borders finds Cuba is "worst country for press freedom in Latin America." Geneva Summit coalition calls on UN to demand jailed Russian dissident be freed.
Today, May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day. It was established 29 years ago on May 3, 1993. Reporters Without Borders has released the 20th edition of its World Press Freedom Index. Out of a list of 180 countries with Norway identified as first in press freedom in the world and North Korea at 180th in last place, Cuba's place in the index fell from 171 in 2021 to 173rd this year. Reporters Without Borders in their entry on Cuba states: " Cuba remains, year in and year out, the worst country for press freedom in Latin America."
The full entry in the World Press Freedom Index on Cuba by Reporters Without Borders is available below. On another front, that of human rights defenders, the international community is being called upon to condemn the imprisonment of a leading Russian dissident and demand he be freed.
Yesterday, the Center for a Free Cuba (CFC) joined with a coalition of over 25 human rights organizations and called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, along with all other relevant UN human rights mandate-holders and special procedures, to condemn Russia’s imprisonment of leading Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza and to demand his immediate release, along with all other prisoners of conscience detained for speaking out since the start of Putin’s war in Ukraine.
On February 26, 2022 the Center for a Free Cuba called on the international community to convene a war crimes tribunal against Vladimir Putin and his accomplices for the invasion of Ukraine. CFC initiated a petition drive that to date has 557 signers. What is being done to Russian dissidents such as Vladimir Kara-Murza for speaking out truthfully only underscores the criminal nature of the Putin regime, and the need for the international community to take a stand against the invasion of Ukraine, but also for these courageous Russian dissidents.
Reporters Without Borders, May 2, 2022
Cuba remains, year in and year out, the worst country for press freedom in Latin America.
Media landscape
Television, radio, and newspapers are all closely monitored by the government. The Constitution prohibits privately owned press. Tele Rebelde and Cubavision are the country’s most important television networks, and Radio Reloj is the most popular radio station. Granma is the leading newspaper, and like all media, it is under state control. Independent journalists, for their part, are kept under surveillance by agents who aim to lessen their ability to move about, and subject the reporters to interrogation and delete information in their possession.
Political context
Miguel Díaz Canel, a protegé of Raúl Castro, replaced the latter in 2019 as the country’s president, and then as first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party. Tied to the Castro family lineage that has ruled since 1959, he maintains virtually total control over information.
Legal framework
The government controls internet access. Although bloggers and citizen-journalists see a space for freedom on the web, they navigate at their own risk, and are frequently imprisoned or forced into exile. In 2021, new regulations that flatly violate the rights of free expression, information, and association in the cyber-sphere, made the principle of an open, free and inclusive internet an even more distant dream.
Economic context
The Covid-19 pandemic and the strengthening of US sanctions are forcing Cuba into its worst economic crisis in 30 years, pushing many Cubans to try to emigrate by any means possible.
Sociocultural context
The open dissidence of the San Isidro movement in November and December of 2020, in addition to mass demonstrations on July 11, 2021, unleashed a wave of fierce repression not seen since the Black Spring of 2003.
Safety
Arrests, arbitrary detentions, threats of imprisonment, persecution and harassment, illegal raids of homes, confiscation and destruction of equipment – all this is the daily lot for journalists who do not follow the Castroist party line. Likewise, officials control foreign journalists’ coverage by granting accreditation selectively, and expelling reporters considered “too negative” toward the regime.
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