How the lack of freedom to travel impacts a father and daughter

Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country."

Blanca Reyes: Denied entry to Cuba to visit her ailing dad

The press reports Cuban government statistics on travel to the island without the means to verify from an independent source while others talk about reforms. At the same time Cuban families continue to be divided by the communist dictatorship. One example, first reported back on August 14, has ended tragically.

Blanca Reyes had requested on July 22, 2013 permission to return to her homeland to visit her ailing 93 year old father and on August 13, 2013 was denied by a Cuban consulate official.  Two months later on October 13, 2013 Blanca tweeted:

"My dad fractured his hip, they are going to operate, and Cuban government denies me entrance to see him. He is 93 years old."

In a later tweet she raised an important question:

"Unable to enter your home, Cuba, can someone explain that? I address the people who still support the Cuban Government." 

Two days later on October 15, 2013 over twitter received the sad news that father and daughter were never again to be reunited:

"My father died today in Cuba did not see him for 9 years the Cuban government stopped me. UNTIL WHEN MY GOD?"

The denial of the freedom to travel in this particular case has led to the separation of a family and great suffering. Between 70,000 and 300,000 Cubans are banned from returning to their homeland under arbitrary criteria set up by the dictatorship.

Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, like so many other articles in that declaration, is systematically violated in Cuba today.

Courtesy of: http://www.blogactionday.org