This article was published in Le Courrier, October 16, 2026. You can access it here
The year 2026 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Tricontinental Conference of Havana, a historic milestone of the decolonization and national liberation movements. While it would have been legitimate to hope for the celebration in Cuba of solidarity among peoples, of the march of nations toward full sovereignty and equality under the law, the current situation to which the Cuban nation is subjected proves to be profoundly contrary to these aspirations.
The debates held during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council allowed for a rigorous analysis of the impact of the United States’ unilateral coercive measures targeting Cuba. Ms. Alena Douhan (UN Special Rapporteur) presented the conclusions of her visit to that country devoted to the “negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.”
In her report, Ms. Douhan recalls that the embargo imposed on Cuba encompasses a broad spectrum of sanctions introduced by the United States government since 1962 and continues unabated. The most consequential restrictions concern the prohibition of financial flows and the blockade of maritime traffic to the island. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that the tightening of this blockade by the United States in January 2026 exacerbates the precarious situation of the Caribbean island. According to her, these measures constitute a serious violation of the human rights guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the violation of the right to food.
Indeed, the fuel shortage caused by the embargo results in a considerable decline in Cuban food production. This sector operates with less than 40% of the fuel necessary for its normal functioning. This situation impacts, among other things, production (-21% in beef production) and causes inflation in food products (37% in 2024).
The Cuban population is also deprived of its fundamental right to health. Although medical products are theoretically exempt from the blockade measures, the application of the so-called “10% de minimis” rule, stipulating that any commercial good containing at least 10% of components of U.S. origin or under U.S. license is subject to sanctions, hinders the delivery of the majority of medicines to Cuba. This situation generates serious shortages, affecting in particular screening tests for “dengue” and “chikungunya,” mosquito repellents, as well as treatments for cardiac and oncological pathologies. The lack of medical equipment causes considerable slowdowns in medical services; Ms. Douhan reports more than 96,000 patients (including 11,000 children) waiting for surgery. This situation results in an increased mortality rate and a heightened risk of epidemics.
Beyond mere medicine shortages, it is the entire Cuban pharmaceutical industry that is being weakened. The Special Rapporteur illustrates this observation with the example of German-manufactured equipment requiring spare parts and the intervention of specialized technicians. Faced with the German manufacturer’s refusal to carry out repairs, the machine was eventually restored by Russian experts.
The report highlights the dependence of Cuban infrastructure on imports of equipment and spare parts from abroad. The cumulative effects of the various blockade measures are the main cause of recurrent power outages (which can last up to 20 hours) that undermine the distribution and availability of basic resources for the island’s population (electricity, water, gas).
In the academic field, the financial and administrative constraints imposed by the United States constitute a significant obstacle to cooperation. Many researchers and specialists are thus dissuaded from carrying out joint work with Cuban institutions, due to the risks to their freedom of movement, in particular the threat of revocation of their travel authorization to the United States (ESTA) or suspension of their visa. The same applies to humanitarian work; NGOs and volunteers give up intervening on Cuban territory for fear of sanctions.
In order to mitigate this situation, the Cuban government has instituted a set of policies aimed at alleviating the repercussions of the embargo. On the economic front, a reform aimed at stimulating the small and medium-sized enterprise sector has been implemented. At the same time, the State subsidizes basic necessities (rice, sugar, detergents, soap, etc.) while applying symbolic pricing in order to guarantee the population’s access to essential public services, particularly electricity, gas and water.
As part of assistance to citizens affected by the consequences of Hurricane Melissa, residents of the disaster-stricken areas benefited from state aid covering up to fifty percent of the cost of construction materials, although Cuba (2.2 million affected) received 35 times less humanitarian aid than Jamaica (1.6 million affected).
Ms. Douhan affirms that the island is reduced to less than 40% of its economic capacity because of all the unilateral coercive measures, seriously compromising the enjoyment of human rights by the Cuban population and hitting the most vulnerable segments of the population hard.
The report demonstrates once again that these measures in fact constitute a “collective punishment” that primarily targets people in precarious situations. The deterioration of public services threatens the lives of the Cuban people, first and foremost pregnant women, the elderly, children and the sick. Two out of three inhabitants must skip meals, and hospital waiting lists continue to grow.
Moreover, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes that this situation goes beyond the bilateral framework between Cuba and the United States, given that these measures arbitrarily imposed by Washington are applied to the letter by financial institutions and other transnational companies, without any reaction from the States where these entities are headquartered. This is why she speaks of the complicity of third States, particularly Western ones, in the US undertaking.
It should be recalled that collective punishments, as well as the deprivation of food and access to medical treatment, constitute manifest violations of international law. Inflicting such suffering on an entire population, under the pretext of fighting authoritarianism, amounts to a form of ideological blackmail. Such an approach also violates international humanitarian law.
In conclusion, the UN Special Rapporteur urges the United States and all other UN Member States to respect the principle of non-interference. She urges the Human Rights Council to demand the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Cuba, because of their illegal nature. She recalls that, since these sanctions are applied unilaterally, it is incumbent upon all States to assume their responsibilities with regard to their national companies and institutions that de facto hinder the full realization of human rights in Cuba.
In this context, the Swiss authorities also have an obligation to guarantee respect for international law and human rights. The inaction of our governing bodies amounts to support for the humanitarian crisis caused by the United States in Cuba. The passivity of our institutions thus contributes to the increase in mortality, the lack of assistance during natural disasters, as well as the criminal asphyxiation suffered by the civilian population of the island.
It should be recalled that this embargo constitutes an undeniable strategic failure. The maintenance of this blockade reflects nothing other than a logic of illegal and illegitimate interference by the United States in absolute disregard for Cuban national sovereignty. It is high time that all entities guilty of violating the rights of the Cuban population be held accountable and finally allow the latter to fully enjoy its fundamental rights.
Paris Galaz
Geneva, October 8, 2026
