The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned the latest expansion of United States economic sanctions against Cuba, describing the measures as punitive actions that have deepened humanitarian suffering for ordinary Cubans rather than achieving political objectives.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the rights organisation criticised Washington’s decision to extend sanctions to additional Cuban institutions, including the country’s Ministry of Tourism and other strategic state entities, saying the move represents a further escalation of a policy that has adversely affected Cuba for decades.
The group argued that while sovereign nations are entitled to pursue their foreign policy objectives, such actions should not undermine the fundamental rights and welfare of civilians.
“Humanity must come before politics,” the organisation stated, stressing that economic sanctions should not be allowed to inflict widespread hardship on innocent citizens.
According to the CDHR, the prolonged sanctions have contributed to worsening shortages of food, medicine, fuel and medical supplies, while also limiting Cuba’s access to humanitarian assistance and international financial services.
The organisation noted that the impact of the restrictions falls disproportionately on vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and low-income families already struggling to meet their basic needs.
It warned that the cumulative effects of the sanctions continue to place enormous pressure on Cuba’s healthcare system, economy, transportation network, energy sector and access to essential social services, threatening the welfare and dignity of millions of citizens.
The rights group maintained that internationally recognised rights—including access to food, healthcare, development and national self-determination—are protected under international human rights law and should not become casualties of geopolitical disputes.
“Human rights cannot be selectively defended. They must apply equally to every individual and every nation. The protection of human life must always take precedence over political disagreements or ideological differences,” the statement said.
The CDHR urged the United States government to review its policy towards Cuba and adopt measures that prioritise the rights of the Cuban people to life, health, food and sustainable development.
It also called on Washington to respect Cuba’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.
Beyond its appeal to the United States, the organisation urged the United Nations, humanitarian agencies, civil society organisations and the international community to intensify diplomatic engagement and humanitarian assistance aimed at easing the suffering of the Cuban people.
According to the group, dialogue, constructive engagement and international cooperation offer more effective and sustainable means of resolving disputes between nations than economic restrictions that deepen poverty and limit access to essential services.
The statement was jointly signed by the National President of the CDHR, Comrade Yinka Folarin, and the organisation’s General Secretary, Comrade Idris Afees.
The reaction follows the recent decision by the United States to widen sanctions against additional Cuban state entities as part of its long-standing policy towards Havana. The U.S. embargo, first imposed in the early 1960s following the Cuban Revolution, remains one of the world’s longest-running sanctions regimes despite repeated calls by the United Nations General Assembly for its removal over concerns about its humanitarian and economic consequences.
