CUBAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION A Non-Profit Organization 1898 NW 7th Street, Miami, FL 33125

For IMMEDIATE Release – December 12, 2011

CUBAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION RELEASES ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA

Miami—In commemoration of International Human Rights day, December 10, 2011, the Cuban American Bar Association (“CABA), is pleased to announce the release of its first annual report on the status of human rights and the rule of law in Cuba.

The report focuses on key indicators affecting the Rule of Law in Cuba. It provides a succinct summary of 2011’s pertinent legal and judicial activities on the island, highlights incidents affecting the ability of every Cuban citizen’s ability to exercise basic human rights, the status of Cuba’s relationships with other world powers and the status of Cuba’s economy (including attempts at reforms). Of special interest, the report covers two key victories for independent legal groups in Cuba: the acknowledgement of the Cuban Judicial Association and the recognition of the violation of an attorney’s right to practice in Santiago, Cuba. Most significantly, the report shows the birth of an independent legal movement that is slowly gaining force in Cuba which CABA strongly supports through its Human Rights Committee. The report is available in English and Spanish, on the Cuban American Bar Association’s website, www.cabaonline.com. Prospectively, this report will be released every year on International Human Rights day until Cuba enjoys the same freedoms as we do in America.

Founded in Miami in 1974, CABA is a voluntary bar association established to promote equality of its members; serve the public interest by increasing awareness to the study of jurisprudence; foster respect for the law; preserve high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among its peers; provide equal access to and adequate representation of minorities before the courts; facilitate the administration of justice; build close relationships among its members; support Miami-Dade’s indigent community and increasing diversity in the judiciary and legal community. For more information, please contact the President of the Cuban American Bar Association, Victoria Mendez at 305-298-0480 or at victoriamendez@aol.com.

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