Event Honoring Cuban Democracy Leaders

The Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, which is a coalition of over 50 civic organizations advocating respect for human rights inside and outside the island, in conjunction with the International Republican Institute and the Center for Freedom and Democracy, is hosting an event entitled, "Pro-Democracy Movements in Totalitarian States.”

The event will occur on Thursday August 2nd, from 12:00 PM until 2:30 PM at the Congressional Meeting Room North in the Capitol Visitor Center.

Program:

Presentation and coordination of program: Mauricio Claver-Carone, Cuba Democracy Advocates

Moment of silence for victims of Castro Regime, including the most recent

Welcome and Introductory Remarks: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) (confirmed)

András Bácsi-Nagy
Chargé d'Affaires of the
Embassy of Hungary

Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat,
Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio)

Carl Gershman, National Endowment for Democracy

Lincoln Diaz-Balart, White Rose Institute

I. The State of Resistance and Repression in Cuba

Moderator: Alex Sutton, IRI

12- 1pm

"IRI Opinion Poll in Cuba" presenter: Erika Rubino

Video on Resistance and Repression in Cuba (5 mins.)

"The State of Resistance in Cuba": Janisset Rivero, Directorio

Berta Antunez, Rosa Parks Feminist Movement

"Patterns of Repression and Human Rights Violations in Cuba"
John Suarez, Directorio

"External Support for the Internal Resistance" Sylvia Iriondo,
M.A.R. por Cuba

"The Moral Imperative of International Democratic Solidarity," Marc Wachtenheim, Center for Freedom and Democracy

II. The Presentation of the Annual Boitel Award to key activists in Cuba by Members of Congress and the Senate

Moderator: Sylvia Iriondo

Key note presentation of awards:

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs (confirmed)

(Senator Bob Menendez)

(Senator Marco Rubio)

Congressman Albio Sires (confirmed)

David Rivera (R-FL) (confirmed)

"La Solidaridad de la Resistencia Cubana" - Horacio Garcia, Proyecto Pro Cambio

III. An NGO panel on civic initiatives in support of democratic change in totalitarian states and democratic transition in Cuba

Introductory remarks/Moderator:

Carl Gershman, NED

Panelists:

"Civil Society solidarity with Cuba"
Carlos Ponce, General Coordinator, Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy

"Human Rights Advocacy for Cuba Internationally"
Frank Calzon, Center for a Free Cuba

"Support and Solidarity for Cuba's Independent Labor Movement"
Anibal Cabrera, Grupo Internacional de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa
en Cuba

"The importance of international solidarity for Cuban dissidents"
Darsi Ferrer, MD
Recently exiled Cuban dissident leader