PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Cuba [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 December 2023.

The UK ‘s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, made a statement during Cuba’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council on 15 November 2023.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We remain concerned by the severe penalties handed down to pro-democracy and human rights campaigners.

We welcome, however, the steps taken by Cuba to legalise same-sex marriage. The growing participation of women in political and economic life is also positive, but we regret the lack of initiatives to address gender-based violence.

So, we recommend that Cuba:

1. Ensures the right to a fair trial through adherence to the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary.
2. Amends the provisions of its 2022 Penal Code to prevent its use to restrict freedom of expression and assembly.
3. Establishes femicide as a separate offence in its Penal Code.

Thank you.