Petition To the National Assembly of People’s Power of the Republic of Cuba

Petition To the National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of
Cuba / Wendy Iriepa and Ignacio Estrada
Posted on September 1, 2013
Havana, 26 June 2013

To the National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba:

The Constitution of the Republic of Cuba in its Article 63, reads verbatim:

All citizens have the right to lodge complaints and petitions to the
authorities and to receive attention or pertinent responses within a
reasonable time, in accordance with the law.

And in accordance with its letter and spirit, we the undersigned are
addressing that maximum level of government in the nation with the
following.

CITIZEN PETITION

According to principles reflected in the Preamble to the Yogyakarta
Principles with regards to the application of international law of human
rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, and
establishing that:

"RECALLING that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights, and that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights
without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status;

"DISTURBED that violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion,
stigmatisation and prejudice are directed against persons in all regions
of the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity…

"NOTING that international human rights law imposes an absolute
prohibition of discrimination in regard to the full enjoyment of all
human rights, civil, cultural, economic, political and social, that
respect for sexual rights, sexual orientation and gender identity is
integral to the realization of equality between men and women and that
States must take measures to seek to eliminate prejudices and customs
based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of one sex or on
stereotyped roles for men and women…"

Considering that in our country such conceptions are still very far from
being met within Cuban society and are not reflected in the legislation,
we believe it appropriate to REQUEST:

The official acceptance and compliance with the Agreements of Yogyakarta.
That national authorities undertake a wide investigation of everything
related to that negative event in our history known as Military Units to
Aid Production (UMAP) and the results be published in the national media .
That those responsible for these adverse events are brought to justice
for the repeated and massive violation of human rights violation of an
indefinite number of Cuban citizens.
That the use and arbitrary application of the concept "state of
dangerousnous" in the existing Criminal Code against persons for the
sole "crime" of sexual orientation be publicly explained.
That a public debate is opened on the forced exile many homosexual
citizens were subjected to.
That the violent deaths of some homosexuals on the streets or other
locations be explained.
And, for your information, we are are submitting this issue to the
People's Power at that same time we open this document for signature by
citizens who want to do so.

Wendy Iriepa Díaz
Ignacio Estrada Cepero

8 July 2013

Source: "Petition To the National Assembly of People's Power of the
Republic of Cuba / Wendy Iriepa and Ignacio Estrada | Translating Cuba"
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http://translatingcuba.com/petition-to-the-national-assembly-of-peoples-power-of-the-republic-of-cuba-wendy-iriepa-and-ignacio-estrada/