HAVANA, Cuba.- The Fifteenth Forum of Cuban Civil Society organizations against the blockade reaffirmed its strong condemnation of this policy, maintained by successive US governments for 56 years, and demanded its unconditional lifting.

The final declaration denounces the upsurge of Trump Administration’s hostile actions, with additional impediments to the limited opportunities of his country’s business in Cuba and further restrictions to Americans’ right to travel to the island.

The text reiterates that the economic, commercial and financial blockade is a systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people, hinders international cooperation and substantively limits the development of the Cuban economy.

The Forum welcomed the strong support of the international community to Cuba’s demand for Washington to put an end to such a criminal and absurd policy.

Strong Resistance of Cubans

Cuba’s losses due to the US blockade amount to more than 4.321 billion of dollars, only at the stage analyzed in its report to the UN, which will be put to the vote by the General Assembly next October 31.

Students, women, scientists, religious, economists, pedagogues, trade unionists, art trainers, jurists and a representative range of Cuban society, witnessed today with experiences and data how much this policy strikes.

Elementary and high school students captured in drawings their hope for the end of the blockade, and a group of renowned artists created a collective mural with a message of peace.

The Forum of Cuban civil society organizations against the blockade, confirmed the spirit of resistance of the people against a failed policy, but that causes a lot of damage.