UN rapporteurs and bodies have expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of the US blockade, considered the biggest violation of the human rights of the Cuban people.
November 11, 2025 — teleSUR
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights , Alena Douhan , began an official visit to Cuba on Tuesday, from November 11 to 21 , with the purpose of assessing the effects of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade and other unilateral sanctions imposed against the island on the enjoyment of those rights.
During his stay, Douhan will hold meetings with Cuban government authorities , as well as with representatives of international organizations, financial institutions, the business sector, academia and civil society organizations , according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) .
The rapporteur’s mission will focus on identifying the sectors most affected by the sanctions , including secondary sanctions and cases of overcompliance , as well as analyzing policies and strategies implemented to mitigate their effects . The main objective is to assess the impact of these measures on the enjoyment of the economic, social, and cultural rights of the Cuban population .
At the close of the visit on November 21 , Douhan will hold a press conference at the International Press Center (CPI) in Havana , where he will present his preliminary observations . The final report will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2026 .
This visit comes in a context marked by the persistence of the United States blockade , in place for more than six decades, which has intensified after the inclusion of Cuba on the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism , a measure that the United Nations and various experts have requested be reversed.
On previous occasions, UN rapporteurs and mechanisms have expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of these sanctions. In January 2024, several experts called for the lifting of the unilateral coercive measures , arguing that they directly affect the Cuban people’s access to essential goods, financial services, and technologies .
Alena Douhan , a Belarusian national, was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures . Her mandate focuses on assessing the impact of unilateral sanctions on the enjoyment of human rights , particularly in countries of the Global South.
The special rapporteurs and independent experts of the Human Rights Council are not United Nations officials and do not receive remuneration for their work. They act independently and in their personal capacity , although they receive technical support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) .
In recent statements, experts from the UN human rights system have expressed their dismay at Washington’s decision to maintain sanctions and the designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism ,” considering that these measures violate the fundamental rights of the Cuban population .
Author: teleSUR – cc – JDO
Source: Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs – UN – Prensa Latina
