UN experts have expressed concern over the United States’ decision to reinstate Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT). This move, they argue, is expected to exacerbate the already deteriorating human rights situation in the island nation, particularly impacting vulnerable groups.
The independent experts highlighted their ongoing worries about Cuba’s humanitarian condition, which has worsened over recent years due to prolonged unilateral coercive measures. Key difficulties include energy shortages, with frequent electricity disruptions affecting agriculture and food distribution. Such disruptions have led to significant food insecurity, impacting as many as 70 percent of Cuban households, where members have reportedly been eating less or skipping meals.
Medicinal shortages further compound these circumstances, resulting in 60 to 70 percent of basic pharmaceuticals being scarce or unavailable. The knock-on effect also affects education, with a lack of paper and printing supplies limiting access to educational materials. The experts also pointed to the restrictions placed by the embargo, which have effectively hindered efforts by UN-coordinated assistance programs by curtailing imports of critically needed U.S.-patented services and information technology.
The decision to classify Cuba as an SSOT stands in apparent violation of the 2023 UN Resolution which asserts the necessity of ending the U.S.-imposed embargo. This resolution frames such measures as detrimental to Cuba’s sovereign rights and in stark violation of international law, also highlighting their adverse impact on human rights, specifically the right to development.
In early 2025, then-President Joe Biden attempted to reverse Cuba’s SSOT status, seeking to foster dialogue between the Cuban government and the Vatican. However, upon taking office, President Donald Trump annulled these efforts, effectively leaving Cuba on the SSOT list. During his first term, Trump’s administration put forth stringent sanctions aimed at improving human rights in Cuba, but UN experts have noted these actions have instead deepened the country’s crisis since 2021.
Invoking Article 2(1) of the UN Charter, the experts emphasize the premise that all states are equal under international law and should not face unilateral punitive measures without a sound legal foundation. Reinforcing this, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has consistently reported that unilateral sanctions, such as the SSOT designation, are incompatible with human rights obligations due to their severe humanitarian consequences.
In light of the ongoing challenges faced by Cuba and its people, the UN experts have reiterated their call for the removal of Cuba from the SSOT list and the cessation of all unilateral coercive measures against the country.