The recent publication of the official newspaper of the Cuban government, Granma, titled “Accusing Cuba of human trafficking, another ruse to justify economic war,” presents a distorted view of Cuba’s classification in the annual report of the US State Department. .US on human trafficking. Granma accuses the United States of using this classification as a political maneuver to justify the blockade and other coercive measures. However, it is essential to address the real reasons behind this classification and how the Cuban government misrepresents and hides crucial information about human trafficking on the island.
Granma ignores the numerous complaints of forced labor conditions in the “medical collaboration” that Cuba offers to other countries. The State Department report, supported by testimonies from Cuban doctors and international organizations, highlights that these professionals are forced to hand over a large part of their salaries to the Cuban government, live under strict surveillance and face retaliation if they try to leave the missions. The UN has described these practices as forms of “forced labor” and “modern slavery.”
Granma also fails to mention the serious situation of irregular migration promoted by the Cuban regime. The agreement between Havana and Managua in November 2021 has caused a wave of Cuban migrants who, on their journey to the United States, are victims of human traffickers, corrupt police and criminals. This situation is a clear example of how the Cuban government, together with that of Nicaragua, contributes to human trafficking, endangering the lives of thousands of Cubans.
Another issue that Granma avoids is the sending of Cuban mercenaries to the war in Ukraine, with the apparent approval of the regime. This act is a clear example of human trafficking, where individuals are sent to conflict zones under coercion, facing extreme and dangerous conditions.
The State Department report, led by Secretary Antony Blinken, highlights that Cuba is not making significant efforts to improve its situation in the fight against human trafficking. Blinken urged the Cuban regime to ensure that labor export programs meet international labor standards and ensure fair wages paid directly to workers.
Keeping Cuba at level 3 of the report on human trafficking is not a political maneuver, but a measure based on verifiable facts and documented complaints. This classification allows the United States and the international community to pressure the Cuban regime to improve its labor practices and protect the human rights of its citizens.
Granma’s publication is a clear attempt to divert attention from the real reasons behind Cuba’s classification in the human trafficking report. By distorting and hiding information, the Cuban government seeks to maintain a narrative that victimizes the regime while ignoring the serious human rights violations and exploitative conditions suffered by many Cubans. It is crucial that the international community continues to demand transparency and significant reforms in Cuba’s labor and immigration policies to protect its citizens and effectively combat human trafficking.
