Laritza Diversent, Translator: Unstated
On February 25, in a human-trafficking case, the Las Tunas Provincial
Court recognized in Judgment No. 92 that the young Cuban women "were
blinded in the presence of foreigners, seeing in them the possibility of
wearing stylish clothing and shoes, and the ability to visit historic
sites."
The trial resulted in penalties for seven residents of Las Tunas, five
of them for illegally renting space in their homes to an Italian
citizen, who had sex with five young women (including two 16-year-olds
and one 18-year old), between 2005 and 2010. The age of the other two
was not mentioned.
The initial indictment was for a crime of procurement and human
trafficking, although only three of those involved were convicted. The
rest were fined for "illegal economic activity." The owners, who were
tried by the administrative clerk, were also punished with the
confiscation of their homes.
Those involved were arrested in late March 2010. In August, the
authorities found in the province of Granma the body of a 12-year-old
girl, apparently murdered. In connection with this incident, three
Italian citizens were arrested along with at least 12 residents in the
eastern territory of the country.
After the discovery of the body, the authorities unleashed a major
operation in Bayamo, which was concentrated on city residents who rented
their homes to foreigners. Most of the houses were confiscated.
The preliminary investigation did not mention the Italian citizens
arrested just two weeks after the crime or the girl's links with
foreigners. However, popular versions of the facts indicate that the
child visited a rented house where they were holding a party with
foreigners, and there she consumed high amounts of alcohol and drugs.
In June 2000, the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women called on the Government of Cuba to expand official
programs so that Cubans could achieve economic independence and,
thereby, eliminate the need to resort to prostitution.
Ten years later, in June 2010, the United States reaffirmed Cuba as a
country where people are trafficked. Earlier, in 2003, the U.S.
government had included the island on the black list for "not meeting
minimum standards for eliminating trafficking in persons and not making
significant efforts in this regard." And it suggested that Cuba is "a
source of children subjected to trafficking, especially for commercial
exploitation within the country."
For its part, the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women also recommended that the Cuban government analyze the
causes of prostitution and the results of preventive and rehabilitative
measures taken, in order to make them more effective.
The legislation in force in Cuba provides special protection to children
under 14 years against the crimes of procurement and human trafficking.
After that age, the same laws govern as those for adults.
Cuba actively prosecutes prostitutes, mostly young ones, under the
criminal offense of pre-criminal dangerousness. In the majority of
cases, for their rehabilitation, they are confined to correctional work
farms. Criminal liability is acquired on the island at age 16.
Laritza Diversent, Diario de Cuba
Translated by Regina Anavy
April 30 2011
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