standing up for:
FREEDOM.
Promoting democracy and human rights. Globalizing solidarity.
OUR MISSION
The Democratic Spaces project seeks solidarity in Canada with those inside Cuba who are leading the peaceful struggle for democracy, freedom, rule of law and inclusion.
On November 23,. 2024, Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces, joins this global campaign calling for Proof of Life for José Daniel Ferrer, a Cuban prisoner of conscience, amid reports of a brutal beating at Mar Verde Prison in Santiago de Cuba. Ferrer was arbitrarily detained on July 11, 2021, while on his way to join demonstrators in pro-democracy protests. Since August 2021, he has been held in inhumane conditions and subjected to systematic torture, including extreme isolation.
Message to the people of Cuba at a time millions across the island are suffering a brutal and complete violation of their political, civil, economic, and social rights at the hands of a ruling elite that imposes its power by force.
Streamed live on Oct 19. 2024 in a Press Conferenced held by the Assembly of Cuban Resistance in Miami, Florida via Martí Noticias, Cubanet, ADN Cuba, Radio Republic, and short wave radio given the nation wide outage in Cuba.
Statement by Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces, about the recen protests in Cuba on March 16-18, 2024.
On February 28, 2024 Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces published this op-ed in the Bureau News, on the need to re-think and change Canada’s foreign policy on Cuba in light of the regime’s unprecedented levels of repression against civil society & its active alliance with two of the word’s biggest enemies of democracy: China and Russia. The op-ed is titled, “Trudeau must change policy on Cuba, which is leveraged by China, Russia, Iran.”
OTTAWA. CANADA. Jan 29, 2024. Democratic Spaces joins 8 civil society/community organizations, taking part under the Human Rights Coalition to participate in the Public Hearings on Foreign Interference that began on January 29, 2024 in Ottawa. Canada with the participation of lawyers, activists, security experts. This is the beginning of a critical examination of transnational repression & the interference of various authoritarian regimes in Canada's electoral and democratic processes.
On November 21, 2023. Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces presented a paper to a group of Members of Parliament raising awareness on the urgent need for Canada to re formulate its foreign policy on Cuba. The event titled, “Cubans: the Real Story. What about Canada?” was organized by Dr. Orlando Gutiérrez Boronat and hosted by MP Garnett Genuis. A large group of Members of Parliament from the Conservative and Liberal parties attended.
Oct 11, 2023. Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces in an interview with journalist Alejandro Marcano in Martí Noticias on the re-election of the Cuban regime to the United Nations Human Rights Council. “A vote for the Cuban regime is a vote for impunity and a vote against human rights.”
Oct 6. 2023. DEMOCRATIC SPACES calls on the Government of Canada to deny the Cuban regime a seat the the United Nations Human Rights Council. A vote for dictatorship is a vote for impunity & a vote against human rights.
On September 14, 2023, Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces, attended Canada's Parliament in Ottawa for the Swearing-In Ceremony of Shuvaloy Majumdar, who was sworn in as a Member of Parliament for Calgary Heritage. Honoured to attend and support Shuv's life-long commitment to defend Canada's interests around the world and confront authoritarians from Beijing, China, and Moscow, Russia, to Havana, Cuba.
Our op-ed published by The Globe and Mail on the occasion of the second anniversary of the July 11 pro democratic protests in Cuba.
Two years ago, the people of #Cuba made the regime pay the highest international cost/They took to the streets standing up for #humanrights & dismantling myths about popular support #Canada's solidarity is crucial.
Democratic Spaces launches a campaign for the immediate and unconditional release of José Daniel Ferrer, Cuban Prisoner of Conscience and pro democracy leader. He is the 2020 recipient of the Truman Reagan Medal of Freedom awarded by Victims of Communism Foundation.
One important reason why the Cuban dictatorship cancelled the May 1 Parade on Revolution Square and replaced it for minor events is due to fears of a democratic protest in the square, a place that carries the highest propaganda symbolic power for the regime. Michael Lima on Marti Noticias. May 1. 2023
March-April, 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Cuban Black Spring, the crackdown on human rights defenders in Cuba who advocated for the Varela Project in 2003. José Daniel Ferrer García, Cuban Prisoner of Conscience today and also prisoner of Conscience of the group of 75 back then talks about its meaning and repercussions from Mar Verde Prison.
On January 2, 2023, Toronto Star published our op-ed titled, “Talk is cheap, jail is real — Canada’s hollow rebuke of Cuba’s crackdown,” in which we set forth our arguments as to why Canada should impose Magnitsky sanctions on perpetrators at the top of the Cuban regime’s security and military apparatus in the Interior Ministry and Armed Forces responsible for internationally recognized human rights violations including politically motivated persecution, forced disappearances, imprisonment and tortures against countless pro democracy protesters that took part in the July 11, 2021 historic demonstrations across Cuba. See also, “Magnitsky Sanctions: Canada’s Moral Debt to Victims of Repression in Cuba.”
Insight into Cuba-Venezuela relationship in the past two decades. Terror as a form of government and hunger as a mechanism of social control are two of the Cuban regime’s main contributions to Venezuela.
Calling on the release of all political prisoners in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua & wherever oppression exists around the world. Recorded on the occasion of Human Rights Day.
The Globe and Mail on our request to Global Affairs to impose Magnitsky sanctions on human rights abusers in Cuba (10 regime officials and two repressive entities).
On November 15, 2022, Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces presented a paper along with Rosa Maria Payá and Sarah Teich at this event hosted by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Cubadecide and the Panamerican Foundation for Democracy titled, “Canada and Cuba in a World of Expanding Authoritarianism.”
Today, (Nov 14, 2022) Democratic Spaces and the Cuba Decide promoters have filed a joint request for the imposition of targeted sanctions to Global Affairs Canada on twelve (12) Cuban officials and entities responsible for gross violations of human rights, particularly in the aftermath of the July 11, 2021 peaceful protests. These officials and entities are:
Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces will present as a panelist along with Rosa María Payá and Sarah Teich in this event with Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Cubadecide, and the Foundation for Pan-American Democracy.
Speaking with CBC and offering analysis on the relationships of the Latin American left with the Cuban regime in the context of an hemisphere where five of the leading economies are ruled by populist regimes.
Police beating up a woman in the San Rafael Boulevard in Havana, Cuba while people shout “abusers” at them. Oct 5. 2022
A police in civilian plainclothes arresting a young woman in the protests taking place in El Vedado, Havana. Cuba on Oct 1, 2022.
September 30, 2022. People take to the streets in Havana, Cuba chanting FREEDOM and demanding the police to “leave.” A woman recording this historic moment is thrilled to see people standing up for their rights.
We stand with our compatriots in Cuba as they exercise their right to peaceful protests and demand for freedom and democracy.
Sept 29, 2022. People booing Díaz-Canel in Batabanó, Mayabeque, Cuba. A courageous young woman shouts ¨The people is making you walk away.” “You are shameless.”
VIDEO ADDRESS of Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine condemning the Cuban regime and 6 other dictatorships that voted against his video address presentation to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept 21 2022. For more information on authoritarian alliances, see our article: Cuba's alliances with China and Russia forge a global culture of impunity for atrocity crimes
The NGO Democratic Spaces takes inspiration in the ideals and legacy of Oswaldo Payá. See our article: Oswaldo Payá for the Rights to have Rights. On Friday, July 22. 2022 we published an extensive Twitter Thread capturing some of the key ideas of Oswaldo on the 10th anniversary of his assassination along with Harold Cepero.
Video created by Cristian Crespo as a tribute to all courageous Cubans who speak up and stand up for freedom and democracy in Cuba today and across generations.
Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas was the living example of the power of one individual to liberate himself from fear, act on his ideals and actively work to establish the first nation-wide movement for democratic change in Cuba under the nose of one of the longest lasting & most brutal dictatorships of the world.
Excerpts from a speech by Oswaldo Payá at the Sakharov Human Rights Prize award ceremony at the European Parliament. Strasbourg December 17, 2002. One of the best speeches ever delivered in support of Cuba’s democracy.
Enes Kanter Freedom, NBA star and human rights activist sends a message of solidarity and hope to the people of Cuba on the first anniversary of the July 11 pro democracy protests: “Cuba will be free,” and “dictatorship will fall.”
Democratic Spaces proudly celebrates Canada Day. We pay tribute to the freedom that characterizes this great nation that welcomes people from all corners of the globe. To Canada's democratic institutions that gave way to great economic, moral and social advances. When we look around and see that 38% of the world's population live under authoritarian and non democratic regimes regimes, we choose to celebrate Canadian democracy. Only in a democracy the victims of state arbitrariness can seek justice. Only in democracy there are institutions and civil society capable of making visible the injustices and errors of the past and present and seeking justice.
Democratic Spaces joins organizations around the world in condemning the arbitrary prison sentences against Luis Manuel Otero y Maykel Castillo "El Osorbo." We reject criminalization of arts and ideas in Cuba and around the world.
Democratic Spaces joins organizations around the world in condemning the arbitrary prison sentences against Luis Manuel Otero y Maykel Castillo "El Osorbo." We reject criminalization of arts and ideas in Cuba and around the world.
From the Aguica Prison in #Colón #Matanzas, pro democracy leader Félix Navarro Rodríguez in a letter dated June 7. 2022 THANKS #Cubans who attended the #SummitoftheAmericas and the US President for not inviting the representatives of the Castro communist dictatorship to the
DEMOCRATIC SPACES IN CANADA JOIN THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN calling for the release of Cuban artists and human rights defenders, Luís Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Osorbo and all Cuban political prisoners
DEMOCRATIC SPACES IN CANADA JOIN THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN calling for the release of Cuban artists and human rights defenders, Luís Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Osorbo and all Cuban political prisoners
Rosa María Payá, Cubadecide International Coordinator and President of the Panamerican Foundation for Democracy and Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces in the US Congress at the conclusion of the 2nd Transatlantic Parliamentary Coalition for a Free Cuba. May 12, 2022
Democratic Spaces responds to Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs on Petition E-3573
Democratic Spaces responds to Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs on Petition E-3573
Democratic Spaces works with the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba in the Amnesty Law initiative (draft law) that aims to collect at least 10,000 signatures of Cuban citizens for the release of all political prisoners in the island. Following on the footsteps of pro democracy leaders in Cuba such as Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, Berta Soler and other pro democracy activists in other dictatorial contexts, we view this initiative mainly as a pressure mechanism on the Cuban dictatorship.
See article in Diario de Cuba.
English version in Democratic Spaces
Democratic Spaces joins the global campaign #SOSCuba on social media to raise awareness in Canada and around the world about the human rights catastrophe in Cuba and the brutality of repression against civil society in Cuba.
¨Senator Leo Housakos makes history by reading what it is most likely the longest ever speech given in the Canadian Parliament (over 18 minutes) in support of democracy in Cuba and by being the first Canadian legislator to be part of a global initiative in support of freedom in Cuba as he became a member of the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum on November, 2021.” Read article HERE:
Michael Lima Cuadra, Director of Democratic Spaces and promoter of the objectives of the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum.
Michael Lima reading a paper thanking Senator Leo Housakos for his valuable support and solidarity with the cause of freedom in Cuba in a meeting in the Senate of Canada with the attendance of members of the Cuban Canadian community. March 24 .2022
Democratic Spaces stands with the people of Ukraine and with Ukrainian Canadians in this difficult time. To stand with Ukraine is to stand for democracy, freedom, sovereignty and peace.
Listen to this powerful and historic speech by #Ukraine President Zelenskyy on March 15, 2022 to the Parliament of #Canada. In it he asked #Canadians to imagine what it would be like if #Ottawa #Montreal were bombed and pleaded Canada for help closing our air space from #Russian missiles." He reiterated his call to the Government of Canada to “increase sanctions” against the Putin regime.
English and Spanish versions of the speech
The presentation of PETITION E-3573 by MP Tony Baldinelli on March 4, 2022 marks a historic moment in #Canada as it is first petition critical of the Cuban dictatorship presented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada. Through this petition Democratic Spaces captures the hopes of freedom loving Cubans in #Canada and around the world.
In this interview with CBC News. The House with Evan Dyer we called on the Government of Canada to impose targeted sanctions on high officials in the Cuban dictatorship responsible for ordering and carrying out beatings, persecution, arbitrary arrests and gross human rights violations against peaceful protesters exercising their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
CBC NEWS. THE HOUSE.
Michael Lima Cuadra, Director of Democratic Spaces (right) at the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum for a Free Cuba held in City Hall, Miami on Nov 20, 2021. Photo capturing the moment when the Miami Declaration was passed. Senator Leo Housakos from Canada signed the Miami Declaration along with legislators from the United States, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Holland, Uruguay, the Organization of American States and the European Union.
“As long as the heart of resistance beats in Venezuela, the Maduro narco dictatorship is in danger and freedom is possible.”
Michael Lima Cuadra in an interview with Alejandro Marcano Santelli, Sept 18 2020.
“Mientras lata el corazón de la resistencia en Venezuela, la narco dictadura de Maduro esta en peligro y la libertad es posible.”
Michael Lima Cuadra en entrevista con Alejandro Marcano Santelli, 18 de septiembre de 2020.
"I’ve never seen a Latin American dictatorship resist so much pressure from so many people,” ... “So the know-how of repression that’s being exported by the Castro regime has to be confronted by Canada and the Lima Group. As long as that doesn’t happen, Venezuelans are going to face two dictatorships in one.”
Michael Lima Cuadra, cited in Evan Dyer’s “Canada at Odds With Cuban “Ally,” Over Maduro’s Fate,” CBC, March 3, 2019
Political prisoners
Documenting repression and featuring campaigns of solidarity with political prisoners in Cuba.