Women leaders sign in Buenos Aires Memorandum for Democracy in Cuba

During the 5th and 6th of August 2005, we have gathered in Buenos Aires, capital of the Argentine Republic, a group of women representing countries of Latin America, Eastern and Western Europe, determined to support the demands of freedom for all Cuban Prisoners of Conscience and democratic change on the island.

They create the International Committee of Women for Democracy in Cuba and present the Buenos Aires Memorandum.

Buenos Aires, August 8 2005/Cuban Democratic Directorate. Over 30 women leaders from Europe and Latin America signed the “Buenos Aires Memorandum” on Sunday. The document calls on international solidarity to demand freedom for all prisoners of conscience, and respect for the human rights of all the Cuban people, amongst other points.

The Buenos Aires Memorandum constitutes the result of a conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the 5, 6, and 7 of August 2005. The conference counted on the local support of the Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de América Latina (Center for Liberalism and Development of Latin America - CADAL) and the Konrad Adenauer foundation, and included the participation of former and present state officials, leaders of regional and international organisms, intellectuals, academics, journalists, human rights activists, and activists from non-governmental organizations, European and Latin American members of Parliament, and representatives of the Cuban Civic Movement, who constituted “the International Committee of Women for Democracy in Cuba” yesterday afternoon.

 

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BUENOS AIRES MEMORANDUM

 

During the 5th and 6th of August 2005, we have gathered in Buenos Aires, capital of the Argentine Republic, a group of women representing countries of Latin America, Eastern and Western Europe, determined to support the demands of freedom for all Cuban Prisoners of Conscience and democratic change on the island. This conference included the participation of former and current state officials, leaders of regional and international organisms, intellectuals, academics, journalists, human rights activists, and activists from non-governmental organizations, members of parliament, and representatives of the Cuban civic movement, who decided to create the “International Committee of Women for Democracy in Cuba”.

This said, and considering that the international democratic community cannot remain in silence when faced with these abuses, and much less the governments of those countries that have suffered terrible systematic human rights violations, we call on the democratic countries to prove their defense of human rights and, in the case of Cuba, we demand the following:

- We request that our governments demand that Fidel Castro’s regime free all the political prisoners, in compliance with the international pacts which it has signed for the promotion of democracy and the defense of human rights.

-To make an official diplomatic tie between our embassies in Havana, with the family members of Cuban political prisoners, and open the doors of the embassies, especially the Latinamerican embassies, to the Ladies in White, and to the non-violent opposition, following thus the actions implemented by the European countries.

 

- We resolve that the free women of the world should listen to, and join in solidarity with the Ladies in White and all the Cuban women human rights activists, inviting them to our international forums, so that they  may have a voice and we may support them in their challenges, and their battles to achieve them.

 

- Soliciting our governments to demand the presence of international organisms and human rights organizations, to verify the situation of the political prisoners and the Cuban reality. 

-Raising awareness amongst the investors in Cuba, concerning their social responsibility with the promotion of democracy, the development of the Cuban people, and the eradication of sexual tourism.

-Stimulating a worldwide campaign of adoption of Cuban political prisoners and their families, offering them support, and keeping track of and informing others of their situation.

 -Initiating a campaign to collect signatures from democratic leaders in our countries advocating for a general amnesty for all Cuban political Prisoners.

 

Partial List of Signatures:

Adriana González Carrillo- Member of Parliament- México
Adriana Núñez – Costa Rica
Andrea Carriso- Argentina
Beatriz Castañanza- Guatemala
Beatriz Castillo- Uruguay
Blanca González- Cuba-Exile
Elizabeth Canales- Mayor- Perú
Elsa Pereyra- Argentina
Elvia Navarro –Member of Parliament- Costa Rica
Flavia Vecellio- Argentina
Glenda Rondón – Uruguay
Irma Salinas de Neme- Argentina
Janes Melo - Brasil
Margarita Reyes Galván- Uruguay
María Clara Forréis- Argentina
María del Milagro Méndez- Costa Rica
María Gabriela Panelli- Argentina
María Guadalupe Suárez- Member of Parliament- México
María Irene Russeau- Argentina
María Lima- Cuba-Exile
María Marta Maenza – Argentina
María Mercedes Llano- Argentina
María Teresa Reviriego- Argentina
Mariana Aylwin- Former Minister of Education- Chile
Marisa Garnica- Argentina
Micaela Lednova- Slovakia
Mireya Zamora Alvarado-Costa Rica
Morelia García – Member of Parliament – Guatemala
Paola Ximena Silva- Colombia
Renata Kalenska- Czech Republic
Sandra Etcheverry- Member of Parliament-Uruguay
Silvia Pardo- Argentina
Soledad Morgan- Uruguay
Teresa Peltier- Argentina
Virginia López- Argentina