Guidelines for Citizen Mobilization for Change in Cuba

• Cut-off Date: April 21, 2025

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Executive Summary of the Most Common Proposals from Organizations Signing the Agreement for Democracy

 

The majority of proposals submitted agree on the need for a sustained, organized, and non-violent citizen mobilization strategy as the central axis for achieving a democratic transition in Cuba. This strategy must include:

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Peaceful Demonstrations and Non-Violent Civil Disobedience

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Actions such as public protests, pot-banging demonstrations (cacerolazos), boycotts, sit-ins, student strikes, information campaigns, and mass rejection of regime processes without democratic guarantees are proposed. These actions should be aimed at empowering citizens, making social discontent visible, and demonstrating the regime's illegitimacy, while maintaining a non-violent and strategic character.

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Citizen Organization at the Local and National Level

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The establishment of coordination networks within the island, even in clandestine contexts, is proposed to ensure secure communication and action planning. These networks should be supported by the Cuban diaspora with resources and the strengthening of civic awareness.

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Roadmap Towards Systemic Change

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The democratic transition is envisioned as a progressive process in five stages that will end the one-party regime and conclude with the installation of a democracy, where any totalitarian force is politically invalidated:

• Immediate respect for fundamental rights, release of political prisoners, and an end to repression and censorship.

• Resignation of regime leaders and formation of an independent electoral committee.

• Binding popular consultation (plebiscite) to legitimize the change.

• Installation of a transitional government that prepares the path toward full democracy and restitution of all civil, political, and economic freedoms.

• Free, fair, and pluralistic elections with international observation.

 

Coordinated International Pressure

 

​The necessity of mobilizing the international community through campaigns from within and outside Cuba, denunciations, documented testimonies of repression, and professional advocacy before governments, parliaments, and multilateral organizations is emphasized.​

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Promotion of Free Media and an Independent Economy

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It is essential to break the state monopoly on information and telecommunications, as well as to support independent media and free access to the internet. Likewise, the importance of economic ventures is mentioned when they are truly autonomous, in order to reduce citizen dependence on the regime.

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Unity and global articulation of the democratic movement against communist totalitarianism and for freedom.

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