UN experts on Friday expressed deep concern over the US government’s decision to reinstate Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT), stating that the decision will have a devastating impact on the human rights of vulnerable groups in Cuba.
The independent UN experts referred back to their previous communications in which they raised concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cuba, stressing that the prolonged and expanded unilateral coercive measures against Cuba have affected all areas of life. The experts found that the growing energy shortage, regular electricity disruptions, and blackouts have affected agriculture production and food distribution. As a result, food insecurity in Cuba is rampant, with at least one member in 70 percent of Cuban households eating less or skipping meals.
The experts also noted that severe shortages in medicine and medical equipment, as well as the progressive depletion of national medical stocks in recent years, have also resulted in 60 to 70 percent of all basic pharmaceuticals being either unavailable or in short supply. According to the experts’ communications, shortages in paper, ink, and spare parts for printing infrastructure further resulted in the reduced availability of educational material. The embargo-related restrictions also hindered UN-coordinated assistance, with limitations placed on imports of US-patented services and information and communication technologies (ICTs).
They further warned that the decision to re-designate Cuba as an SSOT violates the 2023 UN Resolution on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” The resolution stated that the unilateral coercive measures and sanctions imposed by the US undermine Cuba’s sovereign rights since they are “incompatible with an international system grounded in law and are a blatant manifestation of the exercise of political and economic power in clear violation of human rights, including the right to development.”
On January 14, then-outgoing US President Joe Biden took steps to rescind Cuba’s re-designation as a SSOT and remove restrictions on financial transactions with certain Cuban parties by issuing to Congress a Certification of Rescission of Cuba’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism and related National Security Memorandum 29. President Biden stated these steps were taken to support the ongoing dialogue between the Cuban government and the Vatican. Shortly after taking office, US President Donald Trump revoked the Certification and NSM 29, returning Cuba to the SSOT list.
During President Trump’s first term, his administration tightened existing sanctions and added new restrictions intended to influence the Cuban government to improve human rights conditions. However, UN experts noted that the redesignation of Cuba as an SSOT since 2021 has exacerbated the country’s prolonged economic humanitarian crisis.
Under Article 2(1) of the UN Charter, states are equal under international law and should not be subjected to unilateral punitive measures by another state without a legal basis. Furthermore, the OHCHR has consistently reported that unilateral sanctions, including SSOT designations, violate international human rights due to their adverse humanitarian effects.
The UN experts reiterated their call for the removal of Cuba from the SSOT list and the cessation of all unilateral coercive measures against the country.
