Miami, FL – The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC), has combined efforts and resources with the Cuban Soul Foundation (CSF) and the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) to assist the independent Cuban civil society to be represented in the VII Summit of the Americas to take place in the City of Panama, Panama, C.A. The delegation will be integrated by 15 independent civic leaders, human rights activists, independent journalists and bloggers and alternative artists and musicians, residing on the island, accompanied by other activists and staffers comprising a total delegation of 24 civil society actors. (Note: there were 4 Cuban residents who were not able to attend with the Delegation.)
Independent civic leaders, human rights activists, independent journalists & bloggers traveling with the delegation include:
- Miriam Celaya, Independent Journalist & Blogger
- Henry Constantin, Independent Journalist & Blogger
- Barbara Estrabao Bichili, Independent Lawyer, CUBALEX
- Guillermo Fariñas, General Coordinator, United Anti-totalitarian Front (FANTU)
- Sayli Navarro, Member of the LADIES IN WHITE
- Amel Oliva Torres, Member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU)
- Moises Leonardo Rodriguez Valdes, CORRIENTE MARTIANA
- Elizardo Sanchez, Director of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN)
- Berta Soler, Leader, LADIES IN WHITE
- Alicia Hernandez, Human Rights Activist, FANTU
In addition, the following alternative artists, producers and musicians, hosted by CSF, will be attending the Summit and presenting a special Cuban hip-hop concert presented by Asociacion Pro Arte Libre (APAL), on Thursday April 9th at the Ateneo Theater, City of Knowledge, Panama:
- Raudel Collazo, Independent Rap Artist, Member of ESCUADRON PATRIOTA
- Soandry del Rio, Independent Rap Artist, Member of HERMANOS DE CAUSA
- David Escalona, known as “David d’Omni”, Independent Artist, Member of OMNI ZONA FRANCA
- Michel Matos, Independent Producer, Co-Founder of MATRAKA
- Silvio Rodriguez Jr., known as “Silvito El Libre”, Independent Rap Artist
Among the delegates, several members have been accredited to attend the VII Summit of the Americas: Hemispheric Forum of Civil Society and Social Actors. These delegates include:
- Barbara Estrabao Bichili, CUBALEX
- Guillermo Fariñas, FANTU
- Mariana Hernandez, FHRC
- Moises Leonardo Rodriguez Valdes, CORRIENTE MARTIANA
- Elizardo Sanchez, CCDHRN
- Berta Soler, LADIES IN WHITE
- Pedro Vidal, CSF
Directors and staff members from FHRC, CANF, and CSF attending as part of the delegation include:
- Karinna Alvarez, FHRC
- Silvia Portuondo, FHRC
- Cristina Canales, FHRC
- Clara del Valle, FHRC
- Mario del Valle, CANF
- Mariana Hernandez, FHRC
- Omar Lopez Montenegro, CANF
- Laly Sampedro, FHRC
- Pedro Vidal, CSF
Members of the delegation will participate in several official as well as parallel events of the VII Summit of the Americas during the week of April 6-11, 2015. Events in which members of the delegation will be participating include:
- Wednesday April 8th, the FHRC will be hosting a full day conference “The Road Ahead in the Struggle for Human Rights” along with Florida State University’s Panama Campus (FSU Panama), City of Knowledge, Clayton, Panama. For the full agenda, please click here.
- Wednesday April 8th to the 10th those members of the delegation who have been accredited will be participating in VII Summit of the Americas: The Hemispheric Forum of Civil Society and Social Actors at the Panama Hotel, Panama City, Panama
- Thursday April 9th the delegation will be participating in The Other Side of the Coin Forum hosted by Fundacion Libertad at the Ramada Hotel, Panama City, Panama.
- Thursday April 9th, beginning at 8 pm local time, at the Ateneo Theater, City of Knowledge, Panama, the FHRC will be sponsoring a Cuban hip-hop concert, produced by Cuban Soul Foundation, and presented by the Asociacion Pro Arte Libre (APAL), featuring some of Cuba’s most prominent independent rap artists. For full concert details, please click here.
- Friday, April 10th members of the delegation will be participating in a Freedom House event to be hosted in Panama City, Panama.
The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (“FHRC”) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1992 to promote a nonviolent transition to a free and democratic Cuba by empowering independent Civil Society within Cuba. FHRC maintains regular contact with human rights defenders and civic activists who are working for change in Cuba through nonviolent means.
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CONTACT:
Jose Luis Martinez (Miami)
Ph: 305-390-2786 ext 211
Email: JMartinez@fhrcuba.org
Silvia Portuondo (In Panama)
Email: sportuondo@fhrcuba.org