Above photo: Protesters outside Moynihan Train Hall in New York City. Lyna Bentahar.
Calls for Defense of International Law.
Legal organizations from around the world denounce sanctions, threats against Cuban sovereignty, and growing repression of Cuba solidarity movements.
Representatives of legal organizations from Latin America, Europe, Turkey, South Africa, and the United States gathered today at a press conference organized by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) to condemn escalating United States measures against Cuba and to call for renewed international action in defense of international law, Cuban sovereignty, and the rights of the Cuban people. Speakers warned that recent U.S. actions constitute serious violations of international law and threaten the rights and well-being of millions of Cubans.
The 65+ year-old Economic Blockade, expanded Fuel Blockade and the Extraterritorial Application, in Violation not only of the Sovereignty of Cuba but of all States who are coerced by the Illegal Blockade.
Recent measures have intensified the humanitarian consequences of the blockade, contributing to fuel shortages, prolonged power outages, disruptions to healthcare services, and broader economic hardship across the island. Participants emphasized that the U.S. blockade of Cuba, now in its seventh decade, has been repeatedly condemned by the overwhelming majority of the international community through annual United Nations General Assembly resolutions.
“The illegality of the blockade is not in doubt. What is at stake today is the impunity that allows it to continue. What is at stake is the complete disregard of the United States for international law and collective institutions and their contempt for the common values of humankind. The actions of successive U.S. administrations against Cuba make it very clear that they do not consider themselves bound by the principles of sovereign equality, peaceful coexistence and self-determination that form the foundation of the international legal order. – Micol Savia, General Secretary of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers.
“With their sanctions, the USA is violating the principle of territorial sovereignty (UN Charter). ..Through their unilaterally imposed sanctions, the USA is violating the rules of the UN system. …The UN Human Rights Council has also repeatedly and emphatically condemned US policy as illegal and a violation of human rights (e.g., in June 2026). For over three decades, the UN General Assembly has condemned the US embargo against Cuba. In October 2025, 165 countries voted in favor of the annual resolution calling for an end to the blockade. While these resolutions are not legally binding, they represent the consensus of the international community regarding legal and moral principles.”
“Another dimension of the blockade and sanctions against Cuba is the pressure imposed on third countries. The threat of punishment against institutions, banks, companies and individuals that seek to establish commercial, financial or diplomatic relations with Cuba is an intervention not only against Cuba, but also into the sovereign sphere of other countries. This shows how broad and arbitrary the sanctions policy has become as a tool of coercion. The threat of sanctions against companies from third countries that trade with Cuba violates their sovereignty.” – Ceren Uysal, Co-General Secretary of the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights, ELDH
U.S. Escalation of Threats of War against Cuba and the Politically Motivated, False Indictment of Raúl Castro, being used as a false pretext for invasion.
“Cuba is now under the direct threat of US Imperialist war of aggression after a long period of economic and financial blockade. Serious transgressions on Cuba’s sovereignty from failed efforts to foment unrest among the population, to the personal assault on the integrity of Comrade Raul Castro by Donald Trump intensified, with a threat of armed invasion tweeted by Donald Trump himself.” Edwin De La Cruz, AMISTAD Philippine Cuba Friendship Association & National Union of People’s Lawyers.
“This indictment is a transparently political prosecution that serves no legitimate law enforcement purpose. These charges, which are clearly invalid as attempts to criminalize legitimate acts of self-defense by a sovereign nation, have been brought nearly three decades after the incident in question against a 94-year-old former head of state who will never be extradited to the United States, and are clearly symbolic in nature. This prosecution is the latest manifestation of the Trump administration’s ratcheting up of pressure against the sovereignty of Cuba and constitutes an abuse of prosecutorial discretion in U.S. law for political ends.” Deborah A. Jackson, President of the National Conference of Black Lawyers
“The indictment of Castro, a foreign leader and former head of state, threatens a repeat of the illegal abduction on January 3, 2026 of Venezuela’s president and his wife. As set forth in the NLG Emergency Resolution, Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states clearly that treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate constitute “the supreme Law of the Land,” binding on the President and administration. This includes the UN Charter, which mandates that “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, ….” The US military attacks which abducted President Maduro killed over 75 people in Venezuela, and a similar attempt in Cuba would likely kill many more.” Kerry Mclean, National Lawyers Guild, US
U.S. designations of Cuban entities and leaders, weaponized to intimidate those involved in Cuba solidarity work.
Speakers highlighted growing concern over recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), including actions targeting Cuban institutions, public officials, and organizations that facilitate international solidarity and exchange with Cuba. Several speakers warned that these measures are increasingly being accompanied by efforts to intimidate, investigate, and criminalize solidarity organizations operating within the United States.
Speakers stressed that economic coercion, sanctions, and political intimidation are being used as instruments to suppress national sovereignty and popular movements around the world, called for the removal of Cuba and Cuban institutions from politically motivated sanctions and designation regimes, and urged legal professionals internationally to defend those targeted by what participants characterized as politically motivated lawfare.
“Like the designation of Cuba as a “state supporter of terror” and the designations of many of the leading organizations and figures of the Cuba solidarity movement, these organizations and individuals are designated and targeted to impose state terror on the Palestine and Cuba solidarity movements, divide people from their homelands, and blunt the effectiveness of any opposition to U.S. imperialism. The aim of such designations is not only to prohibit financial transactions, but to isolate those organizations and individuals that the U.S. views as key networks of solidarity against imperialism and to prevent meaningful action to bring its crimes to an end.” Charlotte Kates, Deputy General Secretary of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers
Dr. Rosemary Mele of the National Conference of Black Lawyers warned of increasing efforts to target organizations and activists involved in Cuba solidarity work in the United States. She urged supporters of Cuba to remain informed, organized, and vigilant in the face of growing political pressure and attempts to chill dissent.
Calls for the International Community to Act and Stop U.S. Violations of International Law, and Seek Accountability
“Those who remain silent in the face of this growing unlawfulness and aggressiveness assume a grave responsibility, particularly when such conduct is carried out by one of the most powerful and heavily armed States in the world. By letting these policies continue unabated, and by applying double standards and selectivity while granting widespread impunity to rich and powerful States, they contribute to the erosion of the international legal order and pave the way for a world without the Rule of Law.” – Micol Savia, General Secretary, IADL
Call for Solidarity with Cuba, a State that is a Model of International Solidarity
Throughout the event, speakers reaffirmed Cuba’s longstanding contributions to international solidarity, including medical assistance, educational programs, disaster relief, and support for anti-colonial and liberation struggles worldwide.
Esqui Onalan, President of the Progressive Lawyers Association of Turkey, called for “strengthened international solidarity among peoples resisting economic warfare and foreign intervention, emphasizing that the struggle against sanctions and coercive measures is a global concern.”
Conclusion: Demands and A Call to Action
The conference concluded with a collective appeal to governments, international institutions, legal organizations, and civil society to oppose unilateral coercive measures, defend international law, stop U.S. aggressions against Cuba, and work toward ending the U.S. blockade of Cuba.
Organizers expressed hope that the event would serve as a catalyst for broader engagement by the international legal community and encourage greater public attention to what participants described as ongoing violations of international law affecting the Cuban people.
Key Demands Raised During the Press Conference
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End the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade of Cuba.
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Remove Cuba from all politically motivated sanctions and designation regimes.
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End the use of unilateral coercive measures and extraterritorial sanctions.
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Defend the rights of activists, organizations, and solidarity movements facing political intimidation and legal harassment.
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Uphold the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-intervention under international law.
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Strengthen international solidarity with the Cuban people and support efforts to address the humanitarian consequences of the blockade.
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Drop the false, politically motivated prosecution against Raúl Castro
