IACHH requests the Cuban State on the death of activist Maikel Herrera Bones

The Inter -American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) lamented the death of Maikel Herrera Bones and asked the Cuban State to contribute its conclusions about the death of the activist allegedly due to lack of appropriate medical care.

«Recall that while he was in prison, Maikel Herrera was constantly denied the access to the medical treatment he required and last December, when he sadly dies, we communicate with the IACHR informing of his death,» Juan Carlos Vargas, General Coordinator of the Foundation for Pan American Democracy, told the IACHR.

«For that request and for that information, today the Inter -American Commission is demanding from the Cuban State to report and report on what happened in these last weeks of Maikel’s life and in recent times.»

Herrera Bones died on December 7, 2024 in Havana at 48 years of age, after more than four months admitted to the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute.

In 2020, Herrera Bones turned seven months in provisional prison in the penitentiary center for patients with HIV of Güines, Mayabeque, for publicly protesting the lack of electric service in their community.

After being released, the “instability in the supply of medicines and the lack of a sufficient food diet” worsened the health condition of the opponent who worsened after contracting Oroopouche, when he had to be admitted to the hospital where he died.

After the processing of the Pan American Democracy Foundation, October 14, 2020 Resolution 69 of 2020 of the IACHR granted precautionary protection measures in favor of Herrera Bones, when he was in prison.

The continental entity considered that the activist imprisoned at that time faced «a situation of gravity and urgency of risk of irreparable damage to their rights» because despite being HIV positive, it would not be receiving the required medical treatment.

Then, the IACHR asked Cuba to adopt the necessary measures to protect the life, personal integrity and health of the opponent through immediate access to a convenient medical treatment, including the necessary medications.

Herrera Bones was an activist of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and De Cuba decides until, at the beginning of 2021, he decided to separate and continue with his peaceful activism independently.