WOLA opposes current U.S. policy toward Cuba. The four-decades long policy of isolation and of “punishing” the Cuban government has only succeeded in harming the average Cuban while having little effect on the Cuban government. As do others in the human rights community, WOLA is critical of human rights violations in Cuba. While respectful of Cuban sovereignty, we believe that the most beneficial way to influence the state of human right and democracy on the island is by engaging with Cuban society.