Our Mission

Democratic Spaces is an NGO and Canadian civil initiative founded and directed by Michael Lima Cuadra, a human rights defender and researcher with a Masters and a PhD. candidacy from the University of Toronto. His areas of specialization are Cuba and Latin America, with a focus on revolutions and dictatorships.

After 63 years of what it is considered the longest dictatorship in Latin American history with a toll of at least half a million people imprisoned/arbitrarily arrested for political reasons, hundreds of thousands forced to flee in numerous exodus and countless killed and exposed to atrocious human rights violations by the regime, it is time for the people of Cuba to live in freedom, democracy and inclusion.

We believe that without pressure there is no change. Democratic Spaces advocates a form activism based on pressure towards the dictatorship in Cuba and in a peaceful struggle for democracy following the principles of Jose Marti when he referred to “conciliation of wills.” This means collaborative work among human rights defenders focusing on a common objetive seeking freedom, democracy and the rule of law of Cuba.

Democratic Spaces works with over 30 human rights organizations in Canada, Cuba, the United States, Spain and other parts of the world. One of our fundamental objectives is to sensitize the people of Canada with the reality of oppression in Cuba and the atrocious human rights violations perpetrated by the power elites in Cuba. We seek support from parliamentarians, senators, civil society and freedom loving Canadians with activists in Cuba leading the peaceful struggle for a free, democratic and inclusive nation.. Our goal is seek solidarity in Canada with the cause of democracy in Cuba.

Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces at a rally held on Sparks Street in Ottawa, Canada calling for the release of all Cuban Prisoners of Conscience. August 15, 2021.

Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces giving a presentation on the key role of human rights in Canada-Cuba relations at Kildare House, Macdonald Laurier Institute in Ottawa, Canada as a part of the event, “Canada-Cuba in the Context of Global Authoritarianism.” Nov 15. 2022.

Michael Lima, Dir of Democratic Spaces at the entrance if the Senate of Canada during the presentation of Motion No. 4 calling for the illegitimacy of the Cuban regime. March 24, 2022.

On January 26, 2022, Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces was invited by the legal/human rights Spain based NGO Prisoners Defenders to attend an event co hosted by CADAL, and members of the European Union such as Dita Charanzová, Vice President of the European Parliament, Juan Pappier, senior researcher at Human Rights With, Javier Nart, Member of the European Parliament in the Renew Europe Group in which over 1,000 Cuban doctors filed a complaint to the United Nations and the International Criminal Court on modern slave condition in missions abroad.

Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces (left) at the Transatlantic Parliamentary Coalition for a Free Cuba held in the US Congress in Washington DC. May 12, 2022.

INITIATIVES

Democratic Spaces actively works in support of the following initiatives/projects: