What Should the UN do about Cuba?

[jonny5]

The EU appears to support the Cuban dictatorship, so dont expect help there, but the UN has all these human rights committees and charters expressing freedom. That seems like the appropriate place for some sort of action to free the Cuban people now that they are willing. But the UN has previous done nothing, so should they continue to do nothing, or should they do something? Actually, Cuba is on the Human Rights council, so maybe step one is remove them?

Deep Concern as Cuba is Reelected to UN Human Rights Council

85 Civil Society Organizations respond to Cuba’s election to a fifth term on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

freedomhouse.org

In June, an email addressed to Javier Moreno, president of the Spanish Socialists in the European Parliament, was leaked, revealing his collaboration with the Cuban dictatorship. The message, written on May 28 by a group colleague, Pilar Ruiz, warned her colleague that the center-right parties were preparing the imminent presentation of an item demanding a declaration on the violation of human rights in Cuba, before the plenary session of the European Parliament. “As you know,” the email said, “it will be difficult to stop, we do not have a majority. I wonder if you want to warn the Cuban Embassy or if you want me to warn them.

 

[Higgins86]

Maybe if the US took its boot off their neck that might actually have a chance at prospering economically?

 

[Port & Starboard]

Maybe if the US took its boot off their neck that might actually have a chance at prospering economically?

You support governments that have their boots on the necks of the citizens?

 

[venice_ca]

You support governments that have their boots on the necks of the citizens?

The US government has a history of supporting governments that have their boots on the necks of the citizens, no?

What makes Cuba so special that the wrath of the US has been directed against the island for so long, while worse human rights violators are considered allies?

 

[Roadvirus]

The UN won't do jackshit. Just like they haven't done a thing over Russia/Ukraine, Belarus/mass arrests, Burma/post-coup mass murder and China/Uighurs.

 

[jonny5]

Maybe if the US took its boot off their neck that might actually have a chance at prospering economically?

WHats that got to do with the UN?

 

[Higgins86]

WHats that got to do with the UN?

Its doesn't but I'm giving you an easier alternative. The US has suffocated Cuba and prevented it from ever prospering for decades now.

 

[swing_voter]

Same thing the UN always does, nothing.

It's up to America to do things.


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[jonny5]

Its doesn't but I'm giving you an easier alternative. The US has suffocated Cuba and prevented it from ever prospering for decades now.

So do you think the UN should punish the US?

 

[Juks]

The EU appears to support the Cuban dictatorship, so dont expect help there, but the UN has all these human rights committees and charters expressing freedom. That seems like the appropriate place for some sort of action to free the Cuban people now that they are willing. But the UN has previous done nothing, so should they continue to do nothing, or should they do something? Actually, Cuba is on the Human Rights council, so maybe step one is remove them?

Deep Concern as Cuba is Reelected to UN Human Rights Council

85 Civil Society Organizations respond to Cuba’s election to a fifth term on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

freedomhouse.org

The same thing that is done to Saudi arabia.

 

[jonny5]

The same thing that is done to Saudi arabia.

WHich is what?

 

[Higgins86]

So do you think the UN should punish the US?

Not punish but I think the conversation needs to be had with the US. What does the US gain from the embargo in the 21st century?

 

[jonny5]

Not punish but I think the conversation needs to be had with the US. What does the US gain from the embargo in the 21st century?

Avoiding enabling a dictatorial country which harms its own citizens. If anything, shouldnt other countries join us and stop enabling them too? Cuba exports to China, Spain, Germany Netherlands, Cyprus, which means those countries are funneling money to the Cuban govt which it then uses to maintain a dictatorship, arbitrarily dissapear and kill citizens, censor and block speech and press, prevent travel, commercial activity, etc etc

Cuba is a UN member and agreed in the charter that

1. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and

 

[Higgins86]

Avoiding enabling a dictatorial country which harms its own citizens. If anything, shouldnt other countries join us and stop enabling them too? Cuba exports to China, Spain, Germany Netherlands, Cyprus, which means those countries are funneling money to the Cuban govt which it then uses to maintain a dictatorship, arbitrarily dissapear and kill citizens, censor and block speech and press, prevent travel, commercial activity, etc etc

Cuba is a UN member and agreed in the charter that

1. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and

But you trade arms with Saudi Arabia so that argument doesn't fly. You could also make the argument that allowing Cuba to open up to the world would modernise it and eventually make it more progressive as we have seen in countless other countries.

 

[jonny5]

But you trade arms with Saudi Arabia so that argument doesn't fly. You could also make the argument that allowing Cuba to open up to the world would modernise it and eventually make it more progressive as we have seen in countless other countries.

I agree. We should stop enabling Saudi Arabias human rights abuses. And so should other UN members. That we are hypocrits doesnt make us right sometimes.

What countless countries have changed from authoritarianism to democracy due to openess though? I cant think of any.

 

[bomberfox]

The EU appears to support the Cuban dictatorship, so dont expect help there, but the UN has all these human rights committees and charters expressing freedom. That seems like the appropriate place for some sort of action to free the Cuban people now that they are willing. But the UN has previous done nothing, so should they continue to do nothing, or should they do something? Actually, Cuba is on the Human Rights council, so maybe step one is remove them?

Deep Concern as Cuba is Reelected to UN Human Rights Council

85 Civil Society Organizations respond to Cuba’s election to a fifth term on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

freedomhouse.org

The UN is pretty much small government in scope and powers.

 

[bomberfox]

I agree. We should stop enabling Saudi Arabias human rights abuses. And so should other UN members. That we are hypocrits doesnt make us right sometimes.

What countless countries have changed from authoritarianism to democracy due to openess though? I cant think of any.

Dictatorships rely on closed systems.

 

[Tigerace117]

But you trade arms with Saudi Arabia so that argument doesn't fly. You could also make the argument that allowing Cuba to open up to the world would modernise it and eventually make it more progressive as we have seen in countless other countries.

Except, gee, that exact approach was tried with China and failed miserably.

 

[bomberfox]

Same thing the UN always does, nothing.

It's up to America to do things.


.

Its been hit and miss pretty much. The UN was never meant to have the power to unilaterally do things.

 

[bomberfox]

Except, gee, that exact approach was tried with China and failed miserably.

Opening up to the world? China is a superpower at the moment.

 

[AmNat]

The EU appears to support the Cuban dictatorship, so dont expect help there, but the UN has all these human rights committees and charters expressing freedom. That seems like the appropriate place for some sort of action to free the Cuban people now that they are willing. But the UN has previous done nothing, so should they continue to do nothing, or should they do something? Actually, Cuba is on the Human Rights council, so maybe step one is remove them?

Deep Concern as Cuba is Reelected to UN Human Rights Council

85 Civil Society Organizations respond to Cuba’s election to a fifth term on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

freedomhouse.org

The first thing the UN should do is dissolve itself. It has no value, so this is the correct answer to any "what should the UN do" question.

 

[Tigerace117]

Opening up to the world? China is a superpower at the moment.

China has only gotten more autocratic even since the decision was made to “open them up”. If the goal was to promote liberalization, it’s been a total failure.

 

[jonny5]

The first thing the UN should do is dissolve itself. It has no value, so this is the correct answer to any "what should the UN do" question.

Touche!

 

[bomberfox]

China has only gotten more autocratic even since the decision was made to “open them up”. If the goal was to promote liberalization, it’s been a total failure.

We have become more liberal as we opened up to the world. Perhaps there was another reason such strategies failed in those countries?

 

[Tigerace117]

We have become more liberal as we opened up to the world. Perhaps there was another reason such strategies failed in those countries?

And, again, China— which is far more similar to Cuba’s form of government than the US’ is to Cuba—- very much did not.

So the idea that turning a blind eye to a dictatorship’s atrocities will cause it to reform down the line is questionable at best