International Workshop on Human Rights Ends in Havana
The President of the Cuban National Assembly (Parliament), Ricardo Alarcon, closed on Wednesday evening an
International Workshop titled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 60 Years Later,” that took place at Havana’s Convention Center with the participation of over one hundred foreign personalities and representatives of the Cuban civil society.
During his closing remarks, Alarcon said that Cuba advocates respect and observance of all human rights.
“This is an issue that can be analyzed from diverse perspectives but the most important element is that all the principles and objectives of the Declaration can be perceived as an integral unit without marginalizing any nation,” the Cuban official added.
Alarcon criticized Washington for its attempts to legitimize torture and demanded the immediate release of Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Fernando Gonzalez and Antonio Guerrero, five Cuban antiterrorist fighters – internationally known as the Cuban Five - unjustly held for over 10 years in US prisons.
Meanwhile, also during the closing session of the event, American Saul Landau read a declaration signed by the US delegates to the meeting that include activist Cindy Sheehan and former US presidential candidate for the Green Party Cynthia McKinney, among others.
The document criticizes the use by rich nations of the issue of human rights as an instrument of their foreign policies to blackmail and pressure underdeveloped countries.
The text urges US President-elect Barack Obama to reject torture and terrorism and to shut down the detention center located on the US naval base in the illegally occupied Cuban territory of Guantanamo. It also urged Obama to return this territory to Cuba.
In addition, the declaration calls for the end of the US financial, trade and economic blockade of Cuba and for the immediate release of the Cuban Five.
Messages of support were received during the event from world personalities such as Nobel laureates Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Jose Saramago, among others.
The International Workshop “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 60 Years Later” was presided over by Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto.
International Workshop titled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 60 Years Later,” that took place at Havana’s Convention Center with the participation of over one hundred foreign personalities and representatives of the Cuban civil society.
During his closing remarks, Alarcon said that Cuba advocates respect and observance of all human rights.
“This is an issue that can be analyzed from diverse perspectives but the most important element is that all the principles and objectives of the Declaration can be perceived as an integral unit without marginalizing any nation,” the Cuban official added.
Alarcon criticized Washington for its attempts to legitimize torture and demanded the immediate release of Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Fernando Gonzalez and Antonio Guerrero, five Cuban antiterrorist fighters – internationally known as the Cuban Five - unjustly held for over 10 years in US prisons.
Meanwhile, also during the closing session of the event, American Saul Landau read a declaration signed by the US delegates to the meeting that include activist Cindy Sheehan and former US presidential candidate for the Green Party Cynthia McKinney, among others.
The document criticizes the use by rich nations of the issue of human rights as an instrument of their foreign policies to blackmail and pressure underdeveloped countries.
The text urges US President-elect Barack Obama to reject torture and terrorism and to shut down the detention center located on the US naval base in the illegally occupied Cuban territory of Guantanamo. It also urged Obama to return this territory to Cuba.
In addition, the declaration calls for the end of the US financial, trade and economic blockade of Cuba and for the immediate release of the Cuban Five.
Messages of support were received during the event from world personalities such as Nobel laureates Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Jose Saramago, among others.
The International Workshop “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 60 Years Later” was presided over by Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto.
Source:
AIN
Date:
11/12/2008