Amnesty urges Obama not to renew "immoral" sanctions against Cuba
UK News
Sep 2, 2009, 11:18 GMT
London - Amnesty International Wednesday urged US President Barack Obama to refrain from renewing US sanctions against Cuba when the measures come under review later this month.
In a statement issued in London, Amnesty said the sanctions renewal date of September 14 presented a 'perfect opportunity' for Obama to 'distance himself from the failed policies of the past' and to send a strong message to the US Congress on the need to end the embargo.
Amnesty International's call is part of a report published Wednesday which examines the impact of the 1962 US economic embargo against Cuba.
'The US embargo against Cuba is immoral and should be lifted,' said Irene Khan, Amnesty's secretary-general.
'It's preventing millions of Cubans from benefiting from vital medicines and medical equipment essential for their health.'
The report said the sanctions had a particularly detrimental effect on the human and economic rights of Cubans as they restricted their access to medicines and medical technologies.
The sanctions were also limiting other imports and placed a restriction on travel and money transfers.
Products patented in the USA or containing more than 20 percent US-manufactured parts or components cannot be exported to Cuba, even if they are produced in third countries.
According to data from the United Nations, Cuba's inability to import nutritional products
for consumption at schools, hospitals and day care centres, was contributing to a high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia, said the Amnesty report.
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