WASHINGTON.- As part of the Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs of USA, Brian Nicholsstrongly condemned the coercive practices used by the Cuban regime to profit from the exploitation and forced labor of its international workers, including medical professionals
The senior official, according to review Marti Newsdiplomat urged the Cuban regime to comply with its international obligations regarding human rights and labor standards. In addition, Nichols shared a report containing 20 actions that people around the world can take to fight human trafficking, thus seeking to raise awareness and mobilize efforts globally.
Along the same lines, Nichols recalled that Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid tribute to heroes from Brazil, Peru and Venezuela in the fight against human trafficking. The United States government expressed its appreciation to these heroes and pledged to continue working with them and other regional partners to eradicate this heinous phenomenon of human trafficking.
The 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, prepared by the State Department, had previously warned that the Cuban regime did not fully meet the minimum standards to eliminate human trafficking and was not making significant efforts in this direction. In particular, it was pointed out that there was a government pattern to take advantage of labor export programs with signs of forced labor, such as the controversial program of medical missions abroad.
Among the violations of the rights of Cuban doctors abroad was the prohibition on carrying a passport, traveling with their families, directly negotiating contracts with employers in other countries and receiving their full salaries. In addition, it was denounced that those professionals who decided to leave the mission could not return to Cuba for a period of eight years.
This confrontation between the United States and Cuba over the working conditions of workers on international missions highlights the importance of addressing the issue of human trafficking and labor exploitation in a global context.
FOUNTAIN: With information from Martí News
