In December 2014, President Obama announced that the U.S. would be normalizing relations with Cuba, a historic move that will align U.S. policies with the realities of today. Instead of reinforcing the outdated legacies of the Cold War , the shift will provide new opportunities for engagement between the two countries and new approaches to effectively raise human rights concerns. The change in U.S. policy signals a new era in relations with Latin America as a whole.
Yet the 55-year-old, U.S.embargo on trade with Cuban remains in force until Congress acts. Created at the height of the Cold War, the embargo has hurt the Cuban people while failing to improve human rights on the island.
WOLA is working to end the embargo and to educate the general public, policymakers and members of Congress on the value of opening up trade, travel and diplomatic cooperation with Cuba.
For more on WOLA’s recent work on Cuba policy, see:
- Why it Makes Sense to Remove Cuba from the ‘State Sponsors of Terror’ List
- WOLA Program Director Geoff Thale Testifies at February 2015 House Hearing on Cuba
- 9 Key Questions about New Cuba Regulations
- The View from Havana: WOLA Was on the Ground When History Happened
- Signs of the Changing Cuban Economy
