19 people convicted in Cuba of child trafficking

According to a report by the state-controlled newspaper, 19 people have been convicted in Cuba for their involvement in child trafficking committed between 2022 and 2024. Grandma. During this period, authorities prosecuted fourteen cases related to these illegal activities, each involving a young girl as the victim. The sentences imposed on the defendants, consisting of thirteen men and six women, range from three to twenty years in prison.

Government efforts and national action plan

The report underlines that the relatively low number of such crimes in the country is due to proactive measures and interventions by the state. Furthermore, the lack of organized criminal networks within Cuba contributes to this low incidence. These efforts are part of the National Action Plan in Human Trafficking and Victim Protection (2022-2024), aimed at strengthening protective and punitive measures.

Grandma highlighted Cuba’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards any form of human trafficking, emphasizing ongoing prevention activities and cooperation with international agencies such as INTERPOL and the United Nations. Specialized care is also provided to victims, especially those who are most vulnerable, including children, women and persons with disabilities.

Criticism and international response

Contrary to the local narrative, a recent report from the US State Department indicates that Cuba remains at the highest alert level (Level 3) as the country fails to meet minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. This designation suggests that the government is under Miguel Diaz-Canel makes no significant efforts to address this problem and continues practices that facilitate and benefit from forced labor.

In October, Chairman Joe Biden’s The administration listed Cuba among countries not making “significant efforts” to combat human trafficking and announced upcoming sanctions against the communist regime. These measures, which still require further elaboration, will remain in place until Cuban authorities demonstrate a change in their approach and comply with anti-trafficking laws.

Previous convictions highlight ongoing problems

In May, at least seven individuals – five men and two women – were convicted in Cuba of promoting services related to obtaining false migration documents and engaging in illegal activities related to human trafficking. As reported by National Television News, these convictions resulted in sentences ranging from five to 28 years in prison for crimes such as human trafficking, falsification of documents and violent robbery.