CUBA PRESENTS REPORT TO UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
12 August 1998
AFTERNOON
HR/CERD/98/48
12 August 1998
A representative of Cuba told the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon that racial prejudice was insignificant in the present day Cuban society, and was only expressed in the most intimate spheres of life like courtship and marriage.
Introducing a report on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Cuba, the country's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria de los Angeles Florez Prida, said that for the past 39 years, Cuban society had experienced a deep process of socio-economic transformation, carried-out after the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959. One of the main purposes of the revolution was the eradication of racism and racial discrimination.
Shanti Sadiq Ali, the Committee expert serving as country rapporteur to the report of Cuba, said that Cuba's role in the struggle against racism and apartheid was highly commendable.
Other members of the Committee requested more information on the situation of ethnic minorities, the percentage of racial representation in public affairs, and the role of the Attorney General, among other things.
Also participating in the debate were Committee experts Luis Valencia Rodriguez, Theodoor van Boven, Ion Diaconu, Régis de Gouttes, Ivan Garvalov, Rüdiger Wolfrum, Yuri A. Rechetov, Mario Jorge Yutzis, Michael P. Banton, and Michael E. Sherifis.
Cuba, as one of 150 States parties to the Convention, is required to submit periodic summaries to the Committee on efforts to implement the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 p.m. on Thursday, 13 August, it will conclude its consideration of the Cuban report.
Report of Cuba
The thirteenth periodic report of Cuba (document CERD/C/319/Add.4) says that in colonial times, racism was the ideology that sustained and justified slavery. However, for the past 30 years, Cuban society had undergone far-reaching socio-economic changes. One of the basic objectives of the successful 1959 revolution was the eradication of racial discrimination.
The report notes that Cuba condemns and prohibits racial segregation and apartheid and its domestic policy and international activities are consistent with that principle. It also prohibits racial discrimination in all its forms, and guarantees the right of everyone to equality before the law and equal enjoyment of their rights.
Furthermore, the report says that everyone under the jurisdiction and protection of the Cuban State has access to effective protection and remedies in front of the competent courts and other State institutions to combat discrimination and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In addition, the report reviews measures undertaken by the Cuban Government to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Presentation of Report of Cuba
MARIA DE LOS ANGELES FLOREZ PRIDA, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, said that regrettably Cuba was not able to present its eleventh and twelfth reports to the Committee between 1990 and 1996 because of the strengthening of the blockade imposed unilaterally against Cuba by the United States. In spite of that, Cuba did not, for a single moment, set aside its permanent actions geared at the international agreements to which it was a party, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, she added.
Mrs. Florez Prida noted that racism during the colonial period was the ideological foundation of the slavery regime imposed by the Whites of Spanish descent on the African Blacks who were taken by force from their homelands to Cuba. The existence of racism and racial discrimination after the abolishment of slavery in 1886 expressed itself though a set of ideas and discriminatory practices that brought forth the exploitation and racial segregation of the non-White sectors of the population, she said.
For the past 39 years, Cuban society had experienced a deep process of socio-economic transformation, carried-out after the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959. One of the main purposes of the revolution was the eradication of racism and racial discrimination, Mrs. Florez Prida went on to state. Nevertheless, the elimination of institutionalized racism and of the legal mechanisms that prevented the enjoyment of equal rights independently of the colour of the skin did not mean that racial prejudice was eradicated, as originally thought it would be.
She said that identification with the new principles of equality of rights without distinction of race radically changed the public manifestations of those ideas and practices, but it was impossible to erase them completely from social conscience in such a brief number of years. Racial prejudice was insignificant in the present day Cuban society, and only found expression in the most intimate spheres of life, more frequently in those regarding courtship and marriage and not at a social level. At present, the number of families of mixed races was self evident, which was a demonstration of the limited and decreasing impact of racial prejudice, she added.
Mrs. Florez Prida noted that the nationalization of the health and education systems, and the fact that they were totally free of charge and with universal access, had benefited traditionally marginalized sectors, such as Blacks and "mulattos", who previously had had only a very limited access to those services. In addition, Cuba recognized, respected and protected the freedoms of conscience and religion and the freedom of every citizen to change his or her religious belief or not to profess any religion, she said.
Discussion
SHANTI SADIQ ALI, the Committee expert serving as a country rapporteur to the situation in Cuba, said the Government of Cuba should be congratulated for frankly admitting the survival of some personal prejudices from historical and socio-cultural factors.
Mrs. Sadiq Ali said that according to estimates by the World Directory of Minorities, the percentage of people of African descent in Cuban population varied enormously, ranging from 33.9 per cent to 69 per cent. According to the 1995 survey, the breakdown of the population by skin colour was 66.7 per cent Whites, 20.1 per cent mixed race and 13.2 per cent Blacks. The report stated it was a question of self-perception and how Cubans defined themselves. According to the report, more and more people found themselves classified as Whites as official policy and culture were supposed to be still strongly Euro-centric, she said, asking the delegation to give the Committee its views on the issue.
Referring to the Cuban statement that it had no ethnic minorities, but rather representatives of other ethnic groups in the form of small communities or families none of them separately amounting to 1 per cent of the population, Mrs. Sadiq Ali wanted to know about their status. They included people of the Canary Islands, Catalans, Spaniards, Galicians, Basques, Haitians, Jamaicans, Japanese and a great many others. Were they full fledged citizens or were they non-citizens, migrants or stateless?
Now that the new Constitutional Reform Act had been passed, had the Government taken any effective measures to amend, revoke or nullify any regulations or practices wherever they might still exist and which had the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination, Mrs. Sadiq Ali asked.
Cuba's role in the struggle against racism and apartheid was highly commendable, Mrs. Sadiq Ali said, adding that another aspect of the Convention remained to be implemented. Under this point, States parties undertook to prevent, prohibit and eradicate all practices of segregation and apartheid in territories under their jurisdiction.
Mrs. Sadiq Ali said that the Government had slightly relaxed the travel restrictions on some of the former political prisoners and other dissidents; and travel limits for the population as a whole were also reduced. Still, Cubans were required to seek permission from their Government to leave and return to their country and they had to be twenty years old and over. Was there any further relaxation in the law to leave and return to their country?
Other Committee members also raised a number of questions. One expert wanted further information on the assertion that Cuba had no ethnic minorities but representatives of other ethnic groups in the form of small communities or families, none of them separately amounting to even 1 per cent of the total population. Further explanation was also required on Cuba's declaration that racial prejudice in contemporary Cuban society was practically insignificant.
Further questions were also asked on the practical application of the provisions of the Convention; the meaning of social legality; the role of the Attorney General; publication of analytical reports of Cuba’s human rights situation in national newspapers; the percentage of racial representation in education, health and labour; and the number of complaints and verdicts handed down by courts.
MARIA DE LOS ANGELES FLOREZ PRIDA (Cuba) said that her delegation might not be in a position to provide detailed statistical data because of other priorities. These were mainly related to the survival of the country and Cuban nationality itself since the blockade imposed unilaterally against Cuba by the United States had been strengthened. However, she would furnish information about recent developments including the outcome of the legislative elections held after the submission of the report.
HR/CERD/98/48
12 August 1998
A representative of Cuba told the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon that racial prejudice was insignificant in the present day Cuban society, and was only expressed in the most intimate spheres of life like courtship and marriage.
Introducing a report on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Cuba, the country's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria de los Angeles Florez Prida, said that for the past 39 years, Cuban society had experienced a deep process of socio-economic transformation, carried-out after the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959. One of the main purposes of the revolution was the eradication of racism and racial discrimination.
Shanti Sadiq Ali, the Committee expert serving as country rapporteur to the report of Cuba, said that Cuba's role in the struggle against racism and apartheid was highly commendable.
Other members of the Committee requested more information on the situation of ethnic minorities, the percentage of racial representation in public affairs, and the role of the Attorney General, among other things.
Also participating in the debate were Committee experts Luis Valencia Rodriguez, Theodoor van Boven, Ion Diaconu, Régis de Gouttes, Ivan Garvalov, Rüdiger Wolfrum, Yuri A. Rechetov, Mario Jorge Yutzis, Michael P. Banton, and Michael E. Sherifis.
Cuba, as one of 150 States parties to the Convention, is required to submit periodic summaries to the Committee on efforts to implement the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 p.m. on Thursday, 13 August, it will conclude its consideration of the Cuban report.
Report of Cuba
The thirteenth periodic report of Cuba (document CERD/C/319/Add.4) says that in colonial times, racism was the ideology that sustained and justified slavery. However, for the past 30 years, Cuban society had undergone far-reaching socio-economic changes. One of the basic objectives of the successful 1959 revolution was the eradication of racial discrimination.
The report notes that Cuba condemns and prohibits racial segregation and apartheid and its domestic policy and international activities are consistent with that principle. It also prohibits racial discrimination in all its forms, and guarantees the right of everyone to equality before the law and equal enjoyment of their rights.
Furthermore, the report says that everyone under the jurisdiction and protection of the Cuban State has access to effective protection and remedies in front of the competent courts and other State institutions to combat discrimination and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In addition, the report reviews measures undertaken by the Cuban Government to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Presentation of Report of Cuba
MARIA DE LOS ANGELES FLOREZ PRIDA, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, said that regrettably Cuba was not able to present its eleventh and twelfth reports to the Committee between 1990 and 1996 because of the strengthening of the blockade imposed unilaterally against Cuba by the United States. In spite of that, Cuba did not, for a single moment, set aside its permanent actions geared at the international agreements to which it was a party, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, she added.
Mrs. Florez Prida noted that racism during the colonial period was the ideological foundation of the slavery regime imposed by the Whites of Spanish descent on the African Blacks who were taken by force from their homelands to Cuba. The existence of racism and racial discrimination after the abolishment of slavery in 1886 expressed itself though a set of ideas and discriminatory practices that brought forth the exploitation and racial segregation of the non-White sectors of the population, she said.
For the past 39 years, Cuban society had experienced a deep process of socio-economic transformation, carried-out after the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959. One of the main purposes of the revolution was the eradication of racism and racial discrimination, Mrs. Florez Prida went on to state. Nevertheless, the elimination of institutionalized racism and of the legal mechanisms that prevented the enjoyment of equal rights independently of the colour of the skin did not mean that racial prejudice was eradicated, as originally thought it would be.
She said that identification with the new principles of equality of rights without distinction of race radically changed the public manifestations of those ideas and practices, but it was impossible to erase them completely from social conscience in such a brief number of years. Racial prejudice was insignificant in the present day Cuban society, and only found expression in the most intimate spheres of life, more frequently in those regarding courtship and marriage and not at a social level. At present, the number of families of mixed races was self evident, which was a demonstration of the limited and decreasing impact of racial prejudice, she added.
Mrs. Florez Prida noted that the nationalization of the health and education systems, and the fact that they were totally free of charge and with universal access, had benefited traditionally marginalized sectors, such as Blacks and "mulattos", who previously had had only a very limited access to those services. In addition, Cuba recognized, respected and protected the freedoms of conscience and religion and the freedom of every citizen to change his or her religious belief or not to profess any religion, she said.
Discussion
SHANTI SADIQ ALI, the Committee expert serving as a country rapporteur to the situation in Cuba, said the Government of Cuba should be congratulated for frankly admitting the survival of some personal prejudices from historical and socio-cultural factors.
Mrs. Sadiq Ali said that according to estimates by the World Directory of Minorities, the percentage of people of African descent in Cuban population varied enormously, ranging from 33.9 per cent to 69 per cent. According to the 1995 survey, the breakdown of the population by skin colour was 66.7 per cent Whites, 20.1 per cent mixed race and 13.2 per cent Blacks. The report stated it was a question of self-perception and how Cubans defined themselves. According to the report, more and more people found themselves classified as Whites as official policy and culture were supposed to be still strongly Euro-centric, she said, asking the delegation to give the Committee its views on the issue.
Referring to the Cuban statement that it had no ethnic minorities, but rather representatives of other ethnic groups in the form of small communities or families none of them separately amounting to 1 per cent of the population, Mrs. Sadiq Ali wanted to know about their status. They included people of the Canary Islands, Catalans, Spaniards, Galicians, Basques, Haitians, Jamaicans, Japanese and a great many others. Were they full fledged citizens or were they non-citizens, migrants or stateless?
Now that the new Constitutional Reform Act had been passed, had the Government taken any effective measures to amend, revoke or nullify any regulations or practices wherever they might still exist and which had the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination, Mrs. Sadiq Ali asked.
Cuba's role in the struggle against racism and apartheid was highly commendable, Mrs. Sadiq Ali said, adding that another aspect of the Convention remained to be implemented. Under this point, States parties undertook to prevent, prohibit and eradicate all practices of segregation and apartheid in territories under their jurisdiction.
Mrs. Sadiq Ali said that the Government had slightly relaxed the travel restrictions on some of the former political prisoners and other dissidents; and travel limits for the population as a whole were also reduced. Still, Cubans were required to seek permission from their Government to leave and return to their country and they had to be twenty years old and over. Was there any further relaxation in the law to leave and return to their country?
Other Committee members also raised a number of questions. One expert wanted further information on the assertion that Cuba had no ethnic minorities but representatives of other ethnic groups in the form of small communities or families, none of them separately amounting to even 1 per cent of the total population. Further explanation was also required on Cuba's declaration that racial prejudice in contemporary Cuban society was practically insignificant.
Further questions were also asked on the practical application of the provisions of the Convention; the meaning of social legality; the role of the Attorney General; publication of analytical reports of Cuba’s human rights situation in national newspapers; the percentage of racial representation in education, health and labour; and the number of complaints and verdicts handed down by courts.
MARIA DE LOS ANGELES FLOREZ PRIDA (Cuba) said that her delegation might not be in a position to provide detailed statistical data because of other priorities. These were mainly related to the survival of the country and Cuban nationality itself since the blockade imposed unilaterally against Cuba by the United States had been strengthened. However, she would furnish information about recent developments including the outcome of the legislative elections held after the submission of the report.