NOTICE TO THE PRESS
October 12, 2018
U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to Launch Campaign on Cuba’s Political Prisoners at the United Nations
Ambassador Kelley E. Currie, U.S. Representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, will deliver remarks at an event launching the campaign “Jailed for What?” about the continuing plight of Cuba’s political prisoners. Her remarks will take place at United Nations Headquarters, Economic and Social Council Chamber in New York City on Tuesday, October 16, at 1:15 p.m. EDT.
The estimated 130 political prisoners held by the Cuban government are an explicit sign of the repressive nature of the regime and represent a blatant affront to the fundamental freedoms that the United States and many other democratic governments support. Holding the Cuban regime responsible for its human rights violations and supporting the Cuban people’s aspirations to live in freedom are key components of President Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum of 2017.
Following Ambassador Currie’s remarks, Ambassador Michael Kozak of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor will moderate a discussion that will include Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro, Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of the Institute of Race and Equality, former Cuban political prisoner Alejandro Gonzalez Raga, and others who will discuss the Cuban government’s continued use of arbitrary detention and specious charges to silence the Cuban people
The event will be open to the press, and will be livestreamed at webtv.un.org.
Journalists should be seated in the United Nations Headquarters, Economic and Social Council Chamber in New York City on Tuesday, October 16, no later than 1:00 p.m.
Journalists will need UN credentials to be admitted to the event.
Journalists should apply for their credentials directly with the UN’s accreditation office using this link http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/accreditation.shtml. Journalists are advised to apply for credentials as soon as possible.
Media who have already completed the UN’s self-accreditation process but who have additional questions can contact Loyda Garcia at GarciaL@state.gov.”