A 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.

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 resolu- tion; 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 activ- ist Jose´ Daniel Ferrer and commending the efforts of Jose´ Daniel Ferrer to promote human rights and funda- mental 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 fun- damental freedoms in Cuba; VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR454.ATS SR454 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 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 move- ment 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 ar- rests 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 Democ- racy 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 move- ment dedicated to promoting human rights, democratic principles, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba; VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR454.ATS SR454 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 454 ATS Whereas, on June 7, 2012, Mr. Ferrer testified via digital video conference at a hearing of the Committee on For- eign 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 ar- bitrarily 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 con- victed and sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of house arrest for the purported crimes of ‘‘injuries’’ and ‘‘priva- tion 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 ‘‘con- stant humiliation’’, and denied access to food and medical treatment: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR454.ATS SR454 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 SRES 454 ATS (1) condemns the arbitrary conviction, sen- 1 tencing, and imprisonment of leading Cuban democ- 2 racy and human rights activist Jose´ Daniel Ferrer 3 and calls for his immediate and unconditional re- 4 lease; 5 (2) calls for the immediate and unconditional 6 release of all members of the Patriotic Union of 7 Cuba (UNPACU) that have been arbitrarily impris- 8 oned; 9 (3) commends Mr. Ferrer for his unwavering 10 commitment to advance democratic principles, 11 human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba; 12 and 13 (4) recognizes the important contributions of 14 UNPACU and all of its members for their efforts to 15 promote greater respect for democratic principles, 16 human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR454.ATS SR454 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS