X. Future AAAS Activities

The AAAS Science and Human Rights Program hopes to continue to facilitate a dialogue aimed at depoliticizing scientific travel in the face of increasingly tense diplomatic relations. As stated, AAAS is seeking to cooperate with both government authorities and members of the scientific community, with the hope of minimizing the negative effects of the current policies on the advancement of science and assuring respect for the human rights of scientists in both countries. AAAS will maintain regular consultation with Cuban scientists to ascertain the consequences of travel policy implementation. AAAS will monitor cases of the denial of the right to travel by the United States and Cuban governments for scientists undertaking legitimate scientific work.

AAAS will analyze the data sent in response to its pending Freedom of Information Act request for information about applications for licenses to travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens for educational or scientific purposes as well as their results.

The Program will provide information on the license application procedure to help scientists seeking to collaborate with their Cuban colleagues to negotiate the bureaucratic process. In addition, AAAS will intervene by alerting government officials of its concern when informed about the denial of scientist’s visa request or license application for legitimate scientific purposes.

The Program plans to continue to monitor these issues with the goal of promoting collaboration within the existing political and regulatory climate while attempting to contribute to a reduction in travel restrictions. The Program will respond to allegations made by scientists of the misapplication of travel restrictions and serve as a source of information for scientists seeking to collaborate with their colleagues in the U.S. and Cuba.

Where advocacy is needed for the right of scientists to travel to be recognized by the U.S., the Program will call upon an extensive network of scientists to urge authorities to assure that the right of scientists to travel is not abridged.

In the meantime, the Program will send this report to appropriate government officials requesting that they consider the recommendations made herein and encouraging them to approach these recommendations in the spirit in which they are made: to foster the free exchange of scientists and scientific information between American and Cuban scientists.