Yamilka Abascal Sánchez

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 21.521757

Longitude: -77.781167

From Region

Individual's/organization's activity: youth rights’ network Mesa de Diálogo de la Juventud Cuban

Type of rights defended

Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?: No

Reported trigger of reprisal: following her trip to Geneva where she engaged with the UN. Between 30 September and 3 October 2019, Ms. Abascal Sánchez had meetings with representatives of OHCHR, civil society and diplomatic missions and participated in a public event, which was broadcast live on social media.

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Reprisal information: During her absence, State Security agents threatened members of her family. Prison authorities reportedly questioned Ms. Abascal Sánchez’s husband and the father of her children, detained in Pinar del Río, about her trip. Upon her return, on 4 October 2019, Ms. Abascal Sánchez was questioned at the Pinar del Río Immigration Office, was cautioned about continuing her activities, and informed that she was temporarily banned from leaving the country or “regulated.”

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Government response content: Government responded to the note verbale in connection to the present report, stating that the allegations are not only unfounded but are based on fabricated testimonies with motivations outside the cause of human rights. The Government rejects the repeated attempts to portray anti-social individuals who have been punished for committing common crimes as human rights defenders when they act with funding from a foreign power seeking a regime change in the country. The Government stated that there are no restrictions or prohibitions on departure from the country for Ms. Abascal Sánchez and, on the contrary, the immigration records show trips abroad including to participate in international events and meetings. The Government stated that allegations of harassment after her return to Cuba from Spain in October 2019 are false, as are the allegations of threats to her relatives during her absence. The Government further expressed its strongest rejection of the use of UN human rights mechanisms to channel false allegations with the only aim of tarnishing the reality and subverting the political project that has democratically been adopted by the vast majority of the Cuban people

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No

Follow up information provided in SG report 0: The case of Ms. Yamilka Abascal Sánchez, of youth rights’ network Mesa de Diálogo de la Juventud Cubana, was included in the 2020 report of the Secretary-General142 on alleged interrogation and threats against her and her relatives during and following her trip to Geneva in November 2019 when she engaged with the UN. OHCHR has received information alleging that Ms. Abascal Sánchez is under constant surveillance by the authorities. In August 2020, her husband was released from prison on parole. Since then, on several occasions, state security agents have reportedly visited her house and threatened to revoke her husband’s parole if she participates in any advocacy activity. On 12 March 2021, a state security patrol car parked outside the home of Ms. Abascal Sánchez for several hours and an officer reportedly told her and her husband that they could not leave the house that day without providing an explanation