FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Center for a Free Cuba Welcomes Lord Alton’s Call for Red Cross Access to Cuban Prisons
Washington DC– June 11, 2026 — The Center for a Free Cuba (CFC) commends Lord David Alton of Liverpool for raising the grave human rights crisis in Cuba during proceedings in the UK House of Lords yesterday. In his intervention, Lord Alton highlighted the appalling violations of human rights under the Cuban regime. He urged UK ministers to press Havana to grant immediate access to Cuba’s prisons by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
These prisons currently hold journalists, pro-democracy activists, and labor rights advocates who have been unjustly detained for peacefully exercising their fundamental freedoms. There are over 1,200 identified political prisoners in Cuba today.
Lord Alton also called for stronger international support for courageous groups such as the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), who have long advocated non-violently for the release of political prisoners and respect for human rights.
John Suarez, Executive Director of the Center for a Free Cuba, stated:
“Thank you, Lord Alton, for raising the issue of human rights violations in Cuba and the lack of ICRC access to Cuban prisons since 1989.
Denial of Red Cross access to Cuban prisons for 37 years is a continuing outrage committed by Havana. What is Cuba’s dictatorship hiding?”
The ICRC has been barred from visiting Cuban prisons since 1989. This prolonged refusal prevents independent, impartial monitoring of detention conditions and stands in stark contrast to international humanitarian norms. It raises serious questions about the treatment of the hundreds of political prisoners currently held by the dictatorship.
The Center for a Free Cuba calls on the UK government and the broader international community to intensify diplomatic pressure on the Cuban dictatorship to:
- Immediately grant unrestricted access to the ICRC and other independent humanitarian organizations;
- Release all political prisoners, including journalists and pro-democracy activists;
- End the systematic repression of nonviolent dissent.
About the Center for a Free Cuba
The Center for a Free Cuba is an independent, non-partisan institution dedicated to promoting human rights and a peaceful transition to democracy and the rule of law in Cuba.
Media Contact:
John Suarez
Executive Director
Center for a Free Cuba
(mailto:john.suarez@cubacenter.org)
John Suarez
Executive Director
Center for a Free Cuba
(mailto:john.suarez@cubacenter.org)
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