III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 454 

Calling for the immediate release of Cuban democracy activist Jose ́ Daniel 

Ferrer and commending the efforts of Jose ́ Daniel Ferrer to promote 

human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 12, 2019 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. 

CARDIN, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. KAINE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JUNE 3, 2020 

Reported by Mr. RISCH, with an amendment and an amendment to the 

preamble 

JUNE 11, 2020 

Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble 

RESOLUTION 

Calling for the immediate release of Cuban democracy activist Jose ́ Daniel Ferrer and commending the efforts of 

Jose ́ Daniel Ferrer to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. 

Whereas Jose ́ Daniel Ferrer Garcı ́a is a Cuban democracy 

and human rights activist who has dedicated his life to 

promoting greater political pluralism and respect for fundamental freedoms in Cuba; 


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SRES 454 ATS 

Whereas Mr. Ferrer was born in Cuba on July 29, 1970, in 

the province of Santiago de Cuba; 

Whereas, in the late 1990s, Mr. Ferrer joined the Christian 

Liberation Movement (MCL), a peaceful political movement led by late Cuban activist Oswaldo Paya; 

Whereas, through coordination with the MCL, Mr. Ferrer 

helped lead the Varela Project, an initiative to collect the 

signatures of citizens to petition the Government of Cuba 

for democratic reforms and protections for freedom of 

speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly; 

Whereas, in March 2003, as part of a series of sweeping arrests of 75 democracy activists, Mr. Ferrer was arrested 

by Cuban authorities for his work on the Varela Project 

and sentenced to 25 years in prison; 

Whereas, in March 2004, Amnesty International declared the 

group of 75 democracy activists, including Mr. Ferrer, to 

be prisoners of conscience and called for their immediate 

and unconditional release; 

Whereas, in 2009, Mr. Ferrer was honored with the Democracy Award given annually by the National Endowment 

for Democracy; 

Whereas, in March 2011, as part of an agreement brokered 

by the Catholic Church, Mr. Ferrer refused to abandon 

his homeland and was released from prison to remain in 

Cuba; 

Whereas, in August 2011, Mr. Ferrer founded the Patriotic 

Union of Cuba (UNPACU), a nonviolent political movement dedicated to promoting human rights, democratic 

principles, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba; 


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SRES 454 ATS 

Whereas, on June 7, 2012, Mr. Ferrer testified via digital 

video conference at a hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 

Whereas, since he was released from jail in March 2011, Mr. 

Ferrer has been frequently harassed, regularly surveilled, 

and repeatedly jailed by Cuban authorities for his role in 

UNPACU; 

Whereas, on October 1, 2019, Mr. Ferrer was imprisoned arbitrarily by Cuban authorities for his leadership of 

UNPACU and outspoken advocacy for human rights and 

democratic principles in Cuba; 

Whereas, on October 1, 2019, Cuban authorities detained 3 

other members of UNPACU, Fernando Gonza ́lez Vailant, 

Jose ́ Pupo Chaveco, and Roilan Zarraga Ferrer; 

Whereas the family of Mr. Ferrer was permitted to visit him 

only twice while he was imprisoned arbitrarily, and the 

wife of Mr. Ferrer reported that she saw evidence that 

he had been physically abused and mistreated; 

Whereas, on April 3, 2020, Mr. Ferrer was arbitrarily convicted and sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of house 

arrest for the purported crimes of ‘‘injuries’’ and ‘‘privation of liberty’’; 

Whereas, on April 3, 2020, Mr. Gonza ́lez Vailant, Mr. Pupo 

Chaveco, and Mr. Zarraga Ferrer were also arbitrarily 

convicted to multiyear sentences of house arrest; and 

Whereas, since he was placed under house arrest, Mr. Ferrer 

has informed international media outlets that during his 

time in prison he was subjected to ‘‘torture’’ and ‘‘constant humiliation’’, and denied access to food and medical 

treatment: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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SRES 454 ATS 

1 (1) condemns the arbitrary conviction, sen2 tencing, and imprisonment of leading Cuban democ3 racy and human rights activist Jose ́ Daniel Ferrer 

4 and calls for his immediate and unconditional re5 lease; 

6 (2) calls for the immediate and unconditional 

7 release of all members of the Patriotic Union of 

8 Cuba (UNPACU) that have been arbitrarily impris9 oned; 

10 (3) commends Mr. Ferrer for his unwavering 

11 commitment to advance democratic principles, 

12 human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba; 

13 and 

14 (4) recognizes the important contributions of 

15 UNPACU and all of its members for their efforts to 

16 promote greater respect for democratic principles, 

17 human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. 

Æ 


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