III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST 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 

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; 

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; 


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•SRES 454 IS 

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; 

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; 


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•SRES 454 IS 

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 a letter from Mr. Ferrer was smuggled out of prison 

stating that he had been tortured, mistreated, and denied 

proper medical attention, and that his life was put in 

danger while in detention; 

Whereas the family of Mr. Ferrer has been permitted to visit 

him only twice since he was imprisoned arbitrarily on October 1, 2019, and the wife of Mr. Ferrer reported that 

she saw evidence that he had been physically abused and 

mistreated; and 

Whereas, on November 28, 2019, the European Parliament 

approved a resolution condemning the arbitrary detention 

of Mr. Ferrer and calling for his immediate release: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) condemns the arbitrary imprisonment of 

3 leading Cuban democracy and human rights activist 

4 Jose ́ Daniel Ferrer and calls for his immediate and 

5 unconditional release; 

6 (2) urges Cuban authorities to grant Mr. 

7 Ferrer immediate access to medical care and inde8 pendent legal counsel; 


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•SRES 454 IS 

1 (3) calls for the immediate and unconditional 

2 release of all members of the Patriotic Union of 

3 Cuba (UNPACU) that have been arbitrarily impris4 oned; 

5 (4) commends Mr. Ferrer for his unwavering 

6 commitment to advance democratic principles, 

7 human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba; 

8 and 

9 (5) recognizes the important contributions of 

10 UNPACU and all of its members for their efforts to 

11 promote greater respect for democratic principles, 

12 human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. 

Æ 


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