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Requested visits
(A in 2009) SR on torture
Agreed visits
(R in 2006) SR on freedom of religion
(R in 2003) SR on the right to freedom of opinion and expression
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UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler
(A/HRC/7/5/Add.3)
Country visit: 28 October to 6 November 2007
Report published: 3 March 2008
Mr Ziegler identified the following concerns:
- Malnutrition and infant mortality. The number of children with low birthweight has been decreasing throughout the country. It has dropped from nine per cent in 1993 to 5.9 per cent in 2004. In addition, infant mortality has fallen in Cuba from 13.2 per thousand in 1990 to 5.3 in 2006. The mortality rate for children under five has also declined from 13 per thousand in 1990 to seven in 2006, showing that Cuba is on track for attaining Millennium Development Goal 4. However, it an estimated 14 to 24 per cent of expectant mothers begin their pregnancy underweight, and weight increase during pregnancy is insufficient for 15.6 per cent of women. These conditions affect children's low weight and subsequent nutritional status. (Paragraph 12)
- 40 per cent of children under two and 30 per cent of expectant mothers suffer from iron-deficiency anaemia according to the World Food Programme (WFP). The situation is worse in the eastern provinces, where 29.1 per cent of children between six and 24 months and 42.6 per cent of children between six and12 months suffer from anaemia. Obesity has also become a risk factor of late: 13.5 per cent of children under five. (Paragraph 13)
- There is a need for greater promotion and protection of the right to food. In many places Mr Ziegler saw that information was available on many human rights issues, including on the rights of children to food, education, health in hospitals and the rights of consumers in marketplaces. However, he was concerned that many people with whom he spoke were not aware of the availability of remedies in cases of violations or did not believe in their effectiveness. Mr Ziegler believed that the promotion and protection of the right to food could be improved by the establishment of an independent institution in charge of receiving and dealing with complaints of human rights violations, including children's right to food and providing adequate remedies (Paragraph 37).
- Children at school receive below the recommended levels of meat, vegetable and fat. Cuba has a free, universal and compulsory education programme for children up to 14 years of age (9th grade). Boarding and half-boarding schools have been established for children of working mothers and those located in isolated areas. Half-board schools provide children with a small snack and lunch. Full boarding schools provide children with all meals. Despite efforts made by the government to meet the minimum daily nutritional requirements, the results of a 1999-2000 study indicate that children in day care centres received 76 per cent of the recommended levels of meat products, whereas children in half-boarding schools received 60 per cent and those in boarding schools only 65 per cent. Similarly, results showed that vegetable and fat intakes were below recommended levels.(Paragraph 42)
Mr Ziegler recommended the following amendments:
- Social security programmes should be strengthened in order to ensure coverage for all, including those that may be neglected under the current system. There should be more varied and nutritious food included in the basic food basket. (Paragraph 77 J)
- Government, United Nations agencies and NGOs must work together to improve the progressive realisation of the right to food for vulnerable groups, by intensifying measures to further reduce the prevalence of anaemia, by developing strategies for promoting a healthy diet, and by combating obesity. Data should be collected on a disaggregated basis to facilitate the monitoring of progress. (Paragraph 77 K)
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UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy
(E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.2)
Country visit: 7 to 12 June 1999
Report published: 8 February 2000
Ms. Coomaraswamy identified the following issue:
Minors and adults are being held together in detention facilities. Michele and Rachel (two UK citizens held in detention without trial for seven months on charges of drug possession) seem to be minors. Ms. Coomaraswamy reminds Cuba that holding minors and adults together in detention facilities violates international prison regulations aimed at protecting minors from abuse by adult prisoners. She welcomes the adoption by the Cuban government in February 1999 of Law No. 87 which provides that minors under 20 years of age should be held in separate establishments from older detainees or at least in separate areas in the same facilities. Ms. Coomaraswamy urged the government to implement this legislative reform without delay. (Paragraph 65)
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UN Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights, Mr. Enrique Bernales Ballesteros
(E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.2)
Country visit: 12 and 17 September 1999
Report published: 21 December 1999
No mention of children's rights in this report.
