The Institute for Democracy in Cuba

[posei...@sympatico.ca]

 

From: Anibal <haniba...@webtv.net>
Subject: The Institute for Democracy in Cuba
Date: Friday, March 09, 2001 7:45 AM

GENERAL INFORMATION
The Institute for Democracy in Cuba
6262 Southwest 40 Street
Suite 3-D
Miami, Florida 33155
Telephone No. (305) 665-0210
Facsimile No. (305) 665-4672
www.somosuno.org
edi...@somosuno.org
Member Organizations
.Agenda: Cuba
.Alianza Cubana (The Cuban Alliance)
.Alianza Democrática Cubana (The Cuban Democratic Alliance)
.Asociación de Ex Prisioneros y Combatientes Cubanos (The
Association of Former Cuban Political Prisoners and Combatants)
.Cuban American Veterans Association
.Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia (The Group for .Assistance to the
Dissident Movement)
.Madres y Mujeres ante la Represi6n por Cuba (Mothers and Women
against Repression for Cuba)
.Miami Medical Team Foundation
.Puente de J6venes Profesionales Cubanos (The Bridge of Young Cuban
Professionals)
.Sociedad Internacional para los Derechos Humanos (The International
Society for Human Rights)

The Institute for Democracy in Cuba
The pro-democracy and human rights activists in Cuba are the vanguard of
political change. They represent the Cuban people's moral compass and
are forcing the Cuban government to confront and even acquiesce to
change.
The likelihood of achieving a peaceful transition to democracy,
consolidating democracy, creating civil society and ensuring the future
economic prosperity of all Cubans depends upon the ability of these
activists, together with Cubans in exile and the international
community, to demand and work together toward fundamental political
change. This is the work of the Institute for Democracy in Cuba.
What is the Institute for Democracy in Cuba and What are its Objectives?
The Institute for Democracy in Cuba was founded in 1996 by nine Cuban
exile organizations in the U.S. who concluded that a unification of
resources, information, work, talent and ideas would further each
individual organization's goal of assisting pro-democracy and human
rights activists in Cuba. These organizations, called Member
Organizations, are: Agenda: Cuba, Alianza Cubana, Alianza Democrática
Cubana, Asociación de Ex Prisioneros y Combatientes Políticos
Cubanos (Ex-Club), Cuban American Veterans Association (CAVA), Grupo de
Apoyo a la Disidencia (GAD), Miami Medical Team Foundation, Puente de
Jóvenes Profesionales Cubanos, and Sociedad Internacional para los
Derechos Humanos. This unification of the Member Organization's activism
has been extremely successful in channeling substantial material
assistance to activists in Cuba.
The Institute's objectives are (i) to promote a peaceful transition to
democracy and the creation of civil society in Cuba and (ii) to assist
in establishing the rule of law and in guaranteeing human, civil,
economic and political rights for all Cubans.
How is the Institute Structured and How Does it Obtain Funding?
The Institute's Board of Directors, appointed by the Member
Organizations, is the entity responsible for establishing the direction
and course of the Institute's work. The Executive Director, Director of
Programs and a small staff are responsible for the day-to-day
administration of the Institute. A large number of volunteers also
assist in the execution of the Institute's work.
The Institute receives funding, in-kind donations and assistance from
the Member Organizations, multi-national humanitarian organizations,
private foundations, corporations, individuals and various governments,
including the United States. The Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt
organization and is a U.S. certified non-governmental organization.
What are Institute's Programs?
In 1996, the Institute launched its first project, entitled Proyecto
Somos Uno, which is comprised of the following four complimentary
initiatives:
Assistance to Activists. The Institute provides food, medicine and
communications equipment to political prisoners and their families and
to pro-democracy and human rights activists in an effort to meet their
day to day needs and to improve their ability to communicate with each
other and with those outside of Cuba. All of the material assistance is
distributed independently of the Cuban government.
Informational Materials. The Institute provides books, magazines,
pamphlets and audio and video tapes on democracy, civil society,
transitions to democracy in former communist countries and the rule of
law to pro-democracy and human rights activists and to possible agents
of change who function within but disagree with the current political
system.
Information Bureau. The Institute distributes information on the
peaceful activities of the pro-democracy and human rights movement to
news organizations, public opinion makers, governments, human rights
organizations, and Cuban activists.
Civil Society Training. Believing that all Cubans have to prepare
themselves for a transition in Cuba and the challenges of a
post-Communist state, the Institute conducts civil society training for
ordinary Cubans and for those who are expected to take leadership roles
in a free and democratic Cuba.
The Institute also gathers and stores information on virtually every
topic on Cuba.
Who are the Pro-Democracy and Human Rights Activists in Cuba and What do
they Seek?
The pro-democracy and human rights movement in Cuba is comprised, in
part, of political prisoners and their families, political dissidents,
civil society actors, independent labor leaders, independent journalists
and lawyers, intellectuals and artists and many others. They seek to
promote a peaceful transition to democracy, the establishment of civil
society and the protection of human, civil, economic and political
rights for all Cubans.
For further information, contact us at:
The Institute for Democracy in Cuba
6262 Southwest 40 Street
Suite 3-D
Miami, Florida 33155
Telephone No. (305) 665-0210
Facsimile No. (305) 665-4672
www.somosuno.org
edi...@somosuno.org