U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

USCIRF Conversation: Constitutional Reform and Religious Freedom in Cuba

Tuesday, August 2, 2022
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET
Virtual Event

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual event discussion on USCIRF’s report, Constitutional Reform and Religious Freedom in Cuba.

In 2019, Cuba adopted a new constitution that changed the country’s religious freedom protections. Despite constitutional protections for religious freedom that exist on paper, independent religious communities in Cuba continue to experience violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The report focuses on the application of Cuba’s constitution and laws in protecting or restricting FoRB and related rights.

USCIRF Vice Chair Abraham Cooper was joined by guest panelists Kirk Dalhgren, Independent Consultant; Javier Larrondo, President of Prisoners Defenders; and Rose Parris Richter, Chief of Staff and Executive Director of External Office to the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB. USCIRF Director of Outreach and Policy Dwight Bashir moderated the conversation followed by questions and answers from attendees.

Panelists

• Abraham Cooper, Vice Chair, USCIRF
• Kirk Dahlgren, Independent Consultant; former Senior Foreign Service Officer, USAID
• Javier Larrondo, President, Prisoners Defenders
• Rose Parris Richter, Chief of Staff and Executive Director of External Office, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief

Moderator

• Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF

This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].