Cuba’s ‘Ladies in White’ to Receive Sakharov Prize after Eight Years

The European Parliament has finally granted Cuba’s ‘Ladies in White’ known also as “Damas de Blanco” group to travel to Brussels on April 23 to receive the Sakharov Prize during an official ceremony. 

Eight years ago, in 2005, the European Union honored the members of the ‘Ladies in White’ group for their activism but they were not immediately allowed by the Cuban government to travel to receive the said prize. The said prize is reported to be one of Europe’s top human rights prizes to date.

Demands Reached

The group that is centered on demanding freedom for their loved ones was formed in 2003. They are named as such because they are seen fighting for human rights while wearing an all-white ensemble. According to one group representative, white shows an image of purity and peace.

The group also served as advocates for peace and demanded that their 75 loved ones who were sent to jail for their suppression of dissident be freed from the said misjudgment.

It didn’t take very long for these 75 people to be released thereafter.

According to Laura Labrada Pollan, daughter of the group’s founder, receiving the prize after eight long years will be a huge honor for the entire group. It will also serve as a tribute to her mother, Laura Pollan who passed away in October 2011.

Cuba’s Stand on Dissidents

According to sources, the Cuban authorities are still mum about the issue and have not given their stand on the matter.
Sources said that Cuba is very strict when it comes to dissidents. These people are considered to be traitors of the country because they disrupt the country’s rules, policies, currencies, religious practices and more. This is the reason why although EU appreciated the efforts of the ‘Ladies in White’ group in 2005, they were not immediately granted permission by their home country to accept the Sakharov Prize.

Sakrahov Prize

The Sakrahov Prize has been named after Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov, a Soviet nuclear physicist, human rights activist and dissident. He was the one responsible for creating the Soviet Union’s (SU) Third Idea, a codename used in reference to SU’s creation of a thermonuclear weapon. It is awarded yearly by the European Parliament to individuals or groups dedicated to promoting human rights and freedom claims. It is awarded yearly by the European Parliament to individuals or groups dedicated to promoting human rights and freedom claims.

Closure

According to Labrada, she and fellow ‘Ladies in White’ member Belkis Cantillo will leave Cuba on Sunday and they will meet with Berta Soler and Blankita Reyes, the group’s other two co-founders.

They are greatly pleased and grateful that in January of this year, Cuba’s president, Raul Castro lifted the exit visa rule that has been implemented for all Cuban travelers for hundreds of years now.

Growing Number of Travelers

After the exit visa rule was lifted in Cuba, several residents as well as dissidents have started exploring other parts of the world. Reports have confirmed that one famous Cuban blogger by the name of Yoani Sanchez has also taken advantage of the said privilege and has been traveling since February this year.