Rubio Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging UNICEF to Protect Cuban Children Detained Following Historic July Protests

Statement

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) sent a letter to Catherine Russell, the newly-appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), urging her to prioritize the protection of at least 45 Cuban children, younger than 17, arbitrarily jailed and prosecuted by the Cuban regime for their participation in the historic July 2021 protests.

"The Cuban regime is prolific in its use of arbitrary detention as a tool of repression," the senators wrote. "In 2020 alone, the Observatory of Cuban Human Rights recorded 1,028 arbitrary detentions in Cuba. According to the independent non-governmental organization Justicia 11J, which is documenting the regime's repression following the July protests, the Cuban regime has detained at least 45 minors between the ages of 14 and 17 for alleged 'crimes.' Fourteen of those minors remain behind bars awaiting trial, according to Justicia 11J."

"We believe that the situation in Cuba warrants the full attention and condemnation of the international community," the senators continued. "Cuban authorities must know that their brazen acts carry consequences and are unacceptable of any country expecting to be considered a legitimate member of the international community."

Rubio is the Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues.

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