IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH | Page 13

It is extremely important that international organizations greatly further the implementation of mechanisms to promote the struggle against racism and discrimination. The U.N. Committee for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination (CERD), as well as the Organization of American States (OAS), have created a
legal instrument that can serve as a model and basis
for coordination among the member States and processes meant to combat racial inequalities and injustices legally, economically, socially and culturally.
Cuba keeps itself quite isolated from these efforts. The
information the Cuban people received regarding an
analysis of the Cuban case that was presented at a
CERD session in 2011 was sparse and manipulated.
Recommendations the CERD made to the Cuban government have not been disseminated, much less complied with in any of its details. Efforts by the Cuban
authorities were more focused on lobbying mightily to
have famous, Afro-Columbian jurist and rapporteur
Dr. Pastor Elías Murillo, in charge of the Cuban case,
removed. Of course, his work with this committee has
been quite commendable.
Internally, beyond verbally acknowledging the obvious shortcomings and lack of progress we endure in
Cuba, our leaders show not even one iota of political
will for accepting their responsibility for these shortcomings, or promoting our always yearned for equality and social justice.
From a political point of view, Cuba’s leaders seem
unwilling to abandon their hegemonic tendencies and
open up spaces and independent, civic institutions in
which citizens can participate and practice agency.
Recent history has shown that this is the only road to
success. Yet, anti-racist, the political police treat independent activists with extreme and repressive cruelty.
Given the cr