Calls for the United States to lift its decades-old sanctions on Cuba have grown sharper and more urgent, following a recent statement from a senior United Nations human rights expert. Alena Douhan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights, delivered a pointed assessment on November 22, 2025, arguing that the sanctions are having severe consequences across all aspects of life in Cuba. Her statement, which follows consultations with officials, residents, and representatives from a wide range of sectors, has thrust the long-standing embargo back into the international spotlight.
The US embargo on Cuba, first imposed in 1960 after Fidel Castro’s revolution, stands as the longest-running unilateral sanctions policy in American history. According to Douhan, these measures have not only persisted for more than 65 years but have also been progressively tightened in recent years. The Trump administration notably expanded the sanctions and, in 2021, re-listed Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism after a brief removal under President Biden. This re-designation, Douhan notes, led to a significant intensification of restrictions, with further measures layered onto an already extensive regime of economic, trade, and financial controls.
The impact of these sanctions, Douhan asserts, is felt in nearly every corner of Cuban society. "The extensive regime of economic, trade and financial restrictions against the island nation marks the longest-running unilateral sanctions policy in US history," she said, as reported by Reuters. The embargo has, in her view, shaped the country’s economic and social landscape for generations, affecting everything from education and health care to food security and basic livelihoods.
Since 2020, Cuba has been mired in an economic and energy crisis. The country’s GDP has declined, food shortages have become commonplace, inflation has soared, and blackouts have rocked the island of 10 million. According to Al Jazeera, these hardships have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the tightening of US sanctions in recent years. Douhan’s findings echo reports from Cuban authorities, who cite both the pandemic and external pressure as major contributors to the crisis.
The humanitarian challenges are stark. There are persistent shortages of food, medicine, electricity, water, essential machinery, and spare parts. Douhan highlighted that these shortages have led to a growing emigration of skilled workers, including medical staff, engineers, and teachers—a brain drain that further strains the country’s capacity to cope. The cumulative effect, she warned, has "severe consequences for the enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to life, food, health and development."
In her statement, Douhan did not mince words about the nature of the embargo. She described it as a form of "collective punishment," a phrase echoed by Cuban officials who have long maintained that their country "will not surrender" to Washington’s pressure. The embargo, they argue, is designed to suffocate the Cuban economy and force political change by making daily life difficult for ordinary citizens.
One particularly insidious aspect of the US sanctions, Douhan noted, is the phenomenon of over-compliance by other countries and international companies. Fearing secondary sanctions from Washington, many foreign businesses steer clear of Cuba altogether, amplifying the impact of the embargo. This, she explained, affects not only the Cuban government’s ability to plan for the long term but also the population’s access to critical goods and services. "The accumulative effect has severe consequences for the enjoyment of human rights," Douhan emphasized, according to Reuters.
Even when the US issues limited licenses and exemptions for the export of food, medicine, and medical equipment, the climate of uncertainty and risk keeps many potential investors at bay. Douhan pointed out that the possibility of future policy shifts in Washington deters long-term commitments, further undermining Cuba’s prospects for economic recovery and development.
The United States, for its part, maintains that Cuba’s economic woes are largely the result of its own domestic policies. US officials point out that exports of food, medicine, and medical equipment are legally permitted under the embargo, suggesting that the Cuban government’s management is to blame for the shortages and hardship. This position, however, is at odds with the overwhelming consensus of the international community.
For 33 consecutive years, the United Nations General Assembly has called for an end to the US embargo on Cuba. The most recent vote came at the end of October 2025, with a clear majority of member states supporting the resolution. Despite these repeated calls, US governments have consistently ignored the international consensus, leaving the embargo firmly in place. Only the US Congress has the authority to lift the Cold War-era measures, a prospect that remains uncertain amid ongoing political divisions in Washington.
Douhan’s statement is more than just another voice in the chorus of international criticism. She has announced plans to present a thorough report on the effects of the US sanctions to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2026. This report will draw on her meetings with government officials, international agencies, church representatives, members of academia, medical personnel, and the private sector, aiming to provide a comprehensive picture of the embargo’s impact.
The human toll of the sanctions is undeniable. Blackouts and grid collapses have become a regular occurrence, disrupting daily life and economic activity. Hospitals and clinics struggle to obtain essential medicines and equipment. Families face mounting difficulties in securing basic nutrition. Inflation has eroded the purchasing power of ordinary Cubans, making even staple foods increasingly unaffordable. According to Douhan, low-income communities are especially hard-hit, with access to medical care and basic goods growing ever more precarious.
Despite these challenges, the Cuban government has remained defiant. Authorities insist that the country will not yield to external pressure, even as they grapple with the realities of a battered economy and a population under strain. The emigration of skilled professionals has become a pressing concern, with the loss of doctors, engineers, and teachers threatening to undermine the country’s social infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Douhan urged all states to adhere to international law principles and norms, emphasizing the need for humanitarian concerns to be fully respected. "I urge all states to adhere to international law principles and norms and ensure that humanitarian concerns are fully respected, grounded in principles of mutual respect, solidarity, cooperation and multilateralism," she stated, as reported by Al Jazeera.
As the world watches and waits for the next chapter in the long saga of US-Cuba relations, the question remains: will Washington heed the calls of the international community, or will the embargo—and its profound impact on the Cuban people—persist for yet another generation?
