Countries split largely along political and
economic lines Thursday when Cuba was reviewed at the United Nations on its
human rights record, dpa reported.
Many developing nations praised Havana, focusing on its strong health system
and overseas medical missions and condemning the United States' embargo on the
island.
They also commended Cuba for being among the only developing nations fully on
track to meet the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
At the opposite end, most Western nations who spoke during the Universal Period
Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council, criticized Cuba on a number of
issues, including its repression of human rights activists and journalists and
limitations on free speech.
Also, the delegation to the review came under scrutiny with some nations
rejecting claims from Havana that it had an independent judiciary and that
there were no prisoners of conscience in the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the session, Omar Pernet Hernandez, a 63-year-old
Cuban dissident, said he was forced into exile after being placed repeatedly in
prison for his political stands, harking back to his days as a young man who
refused mandatory military service.
He said his health was very deteriorated owing to ill-treatment received while
serving several lengthy stints in Cuban jails.
The Cuban Justice Minister, Maria Esther Reus, said the island had an open
system and that no one had been imprisoned for political stands they took, though
she added that exceptions were made for those who cooperated with the US embargo.
Rights groups say dozens of activists are still in detention, many without
trial.
Under the UPR, introduced following the creation of the Council in 2006, each
member nation of the UN will be reviewed publicly on its rights record once
every four years. So far about 55 nations have been reviewed.
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