Trudeau & Global Affairs on Cuba's Human Rights and Democracy

Ottawa, Canada. In recent years, Canada’s foreign policy towards Cuba on human rights and democracy has been characterized by silence and inaction. Since the pro-democracy protests on July 11, 2021, Cuba has imprisoned more political dissidents and increased repression against activists and journalists. Yet, the Canadian government has not effectively used its legal and diplomatic tools to support democracy and human rights on the island. 

Through Democratic Spaces, as part of the Human Rights Coalition and in collaboration with human rights lawyer Sarah Teich, we have submitted questions to Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the Public Hearings of the Inquiry Commission in Ottawa.

We asked why Canada overlooks Cuba's authoritarian ties with Russia and China, and why its embassy in Cuba does not engage with peaceful activists, organizations, and independent journalists fighting for democracy

Following Prime Minister Trudeau’s statement that the Canadian Embassy has a duty to meet with pro-democracy activists, we have written a letter to the Canadian Ambassador in Cuba, urging him to engage with these activists, rather than those affiliated with government-run organizations. Canada can do much to support democracy in Cuba, but it begins with political will. 

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Michael Lima is a human rights activist and an expert in Cuban and Latin American history and politics. He has lectured on modern Latin American history, holds a Master’s degree and is a Ph.D. candidate in Latin American History from the University of Toronto. He is also the founder of Democratic Spaces, an NGO that builds solidarity in Canada with human rights defenders and civil society in Cuba.