Geneva, 8 September 2026. The UN Human Rights Council will examine tomorrow, Wednesday, the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade and the energy siege imposed by the Government of the United States on the human rights of the Cuban people.
In this context, the report containing the findings of the official visit to Cuba by the Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures (UCMs) will be presented for the Council’s consideration.
The Special Rapporteur’s report constitutes the first on-the-ground assessment of the impact of the blockade against Cuba carried out by an independent specialized mechanism of the Human Rights Council.
During her stay in Cuba, from 11 to 21 November 2025, as part of the collection of first-hand evidence, the Special Rapporteur held numerous meetings with representatives from various sectors of the country, including government authorities, the private sector, business leaders, humanitarian and non-governmental organizations, teachers, university professors, independent researchers and journalists. She also met with representatives of the United Nations Country Team, UN entities and members of the diplomatic community.
As a result of her findings on the ground, the report presents extensive evidence of the enormous harm caused by the intensified United States economic blockade to the lives of the Cuban people and to the country’s economy.
The report concludes that the coercive measures imposed by the United States violate the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as well as the human rights of the Cuban people, including the rights to food, health, education, freedom from poverty, a dignified life, as well as economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development.
The document also warns that the additional measures implemented by the United States Government during 2026, including the imposition of an energy siege on Cuba, have further intensified the humanitarian and economic impacts of the blockade.
The report recognizes and commends the sustained efforts of the Government of Cuba to mitigate the negative effects. At the same time, however, it emphasizes that the scale and persistence of the actions taken by the United States are such that they exceed the mitigation efforts of the Cuban authorities.
In her report, the Special Rapporteur concludes that the United States must cease or suspend all coercive measures against Cuba and Cuban enterprises and lift all restrictions that hinder the supply of essential goods to the Island, including food and medicines.
She further stresses that Washington must refrain from exerting pressure against Cuba and put an end to its designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
She also calls on the United States Government to repeal the national emergency it has declared on the grounds that Cuba constitutes a threat to the security of the United States, and to bring its legislation into conformity with international law.