The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

More than a year after the official transfer of power in Cuba, Raúl Castro has taken limited steps to implement some of the “conceptual and structural changes” he has promised. Many of the economic reforms implemented by Raúl Castro focus on the agricultural sector, such as permission for private farmers to buy their own supplies and equipment, leasing unused state land to private farmers and cooperatives, and promoting domestic food production through the private sector. Other reforms include the legalization of cell phones, computers and other appliances, and the elimination of salary caps for workers.

While raising expectations for economic reform, the Cuban government continues to repress attempts by independent civil society activists to promote peaceful political changes and the release of political prisoners. On January 28, Cuba was subject to its first United Nations (UN) Human Rights Review, which resulted in a dozen recommendations to improve its human rights record, including suggestions to end restrictions on freedom of expression and association, release political prisoners and improve prison conditions. Cuba rejected all recommendations proposed by the UN, stating that they “violated Cuba’s right to self-determination.”

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