Cuba
and Human Rights
The essence of Cuba's policy as regards human rights is based on the
consensus reached in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, resulting
from the World Conference on Human Rights held in 1993.
The central
axis of Cuba's position in the topic is the recognition of the universal,
indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human
rights. On this basis, Cuba grants particular importance to the fact
that human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development, should be treated in a global form,
in a fair and equal way, in an equal footing and giving the same importance
to all. more...
The illegal Guantanamo Base
The
United States illegally maintains a naval base in Cuba against the
will of
its people. This facility is situated at the Guantanamo Bay,
one of the biggest of Cuba. It is located 64 kilometres from Santiago
of Cuba, the second city in importance, and 920 kilometres from Havana.
It encompasses an area of 117.6 km2 (49.4 of mainland and the rest
of water and marshes). It delimits a coastline of 17.5 kilometres.
The bay has good characteristics as far as depth, security and capacity,
but at the present, it lacks of strategic importance.
The Platt Amendment, a U.S. Congress´ Law, was imposed to the
first Cuban Constitution at the beginning of the 20th century. In
December, 1903, the United States took possession, "until they
need it", of the Guantanamo Bay, by means of a one-sided treaty.
Since then, and for more than half a century, this base was center
to stimulate prostitution, illegal games and drugs. more...
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