Religious freedom advocacy CSW is “deeply concerned” that Cuba’s National Assembly failed to add protections for religious liberty to a final draft of the country’s new constitution before it goes to a public referendum on 24th February.
In a statement, the UK-based organisation – which noted it continues to record widespread religious freedom violations in Cuba – said that as a result, provisions concerning freedom of religion or belief in the new draft constitution remain “considerably weaker” than they were under the current constitution which was adopted in 1992.
Article 15 of the new draft constitution, which was published in early January, now reads: “The State recognises, respects and guarantees Religious Freedom. The Cuban State is secular [laico]. In the Republic of Cuba the religious institutions and fraternal associations are separate from the State and all have the same rights and responsibilities. The different beliefs and religions enjoy equal treatment.”
Anna-Lee Stangl, CSW’s joint head of advocacy, said the language in the draft was “problematic”, referring to rights, responsibilities and treatment without defining these terms.
“It is disappointing, if not surprising, that the National Assembly has ignored calls from Catholic and Protestant leaders and failed to put in place robust protections for freedom of religion or belief and freedom of conscience in Cuba.”
CSW’s comments come after the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief issued a statement on 10th January calling on the government of Cuba to strengthen protections for religious freedom.
