AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

This March, the US State Department denied visas to all of the 55 Cuban scholars and academics that were planning to attend the annual meeting of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The LASA conference, which started on 15 March 2006, is held every 18 months with its location rotating throughout the US. According to press reports the State Department considers the denial of visas consistent with the overall US policy of tightening the embargo against Cuba. The rationale for the visa denials was a proclamation by a 1985 Ronald Reagan barring Cuban government employees from entering the US as they are considered "detrimental to the interests of the United States." All Cuban academics are employees of the state.

Because of the increasing visa restrictions, the number of Cubans participating in the LASA meeting has been declining over the past six years. In 2000, 100 Cuban scholars attended the LASA meeting held in Miami. In 2003, visas were granted to 60 of the 105 Cuban scholars trying to attend the LASA meeting in Dallas. One week before participants were scheduled to arrive at the 2004 LASA meeting in Las Vegas, all 65 visas were denied, which represented the first time since 1979 that not a single Cuban scholar took part in the LASA congress.

Sheryl Lutjens, political science professor and co-chair of LASA's Cuba section, told AP "These people represent strong scholars who think critically and who are often experts in their area where there are no others." She added that Cuban professors and researchers have been "dissuaded by the new regulations...People are, I think, confused and perhaps even frightened by the thought that they might be doing something that's not permitted."

LASA, with over 5,000 members, is the largest professional grouping bringing together people and institutions to study the region. Its international congress, held every 18 months, is the world's leading forum for academic discussion on Latin America and the Caribbean. LASA's executive board was scheduled to discuss the issue on March 14 in Puerto Rico, a day before the start of the full conference. "Some board members are proposing that we move the conferences permanently outside of the United States until the U.S. changes its policy," said Milagros Pereyra-Rojas, LASA's executive director.

(Sources of information for this case include: Latin America Working Group, AP, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 12(2): Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.
• Article 21: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Article 15 (3): The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to respect the freedom indispensable for scientific research and creative activity.
• Article 15 (4): The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and co-operation in the scientific and cultural fields.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 13(2): Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his [or her] own, and to return to his country.
• Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern over the denial of visas for Cuban scholars seeking to engage in legitimate academic activities in the US; and
• Reminding the US government that the free exchange of ideas is one of the most basic values of the scientific enterprise, and the freedom to travel is one of the most important ways of furthering that exchange. In fact, the scientific endeavor is dependent on the freedom of association, expressions, information, communication, and movement.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street , NW
Washington DC 20520
email via webform:
http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=uMxC5h3i&p_lva=&p_sp=&p_li=
Fax: (202) 647-4000 (TEL)
secretary@state.gov
Salutation: Dear Madame Secretary

Mr. Stephen McFarland
Director, Office of Cuban Affairs
Office of Cuban Affairs
WHA/CCA, Room 3234
2201 C St., NW
Washington, DC 20520
Salutation: Dear Mr. Whitaker

Mr. Thomas A. Shannon, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Department of State, Room 6262
2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Salutation: Dear Mr. Assistant Secretary

Mr. Michael Chertoff
Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Fax: 202-282-8000
Salutation: Dear Mr. Secretary

COPIES SENT TO:

Latin American Studies Association
946 William Pitt Union
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Fax: 412-624-7145
lasa@pitt.edu


Lisa Haugaard
Executive Director
Latin America Working Group
424 C Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Fax: 202-543-7647
lisah@lawg.org

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Sarah Olmstead, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6787; email shrp@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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