text: butwouldruinthechances ofapeaceful solution. -62-h~dtakenplaceinthecountry since1969.Theprovisions oftheConvention as wellasthoseoftheInternational Convention ontheSuppression andPunishment of theCrimeofApartheid hadbeenincorporated intoCuba'snational legislation. Furthermore, Cubacontinued todemonstrate itssolidarity withtheoppressed people livinginSouthAfrica, Namibia andArabterritories occupied byIsrael, andfully supported thenotional liberation movements fighting againstallmanifestations of racialdiscrimination andApartheid. !nthisconnection, shedrewtheCommittee's attention totheroleplayedbyCubainthetalksthathadledtothesigning of thetripartite agreement endingtheconflict insouth-western Africa an~promoting theindependence ofNamibia. Lastly, shehighlighted several aspects ofthenew PenalCode,whichhadentered intoforceinApril1988,andstated, inparticular, thatithadintroduced punishment otherthandeprivation ofliberty withaviewto reducing theprisonpopulation andthat,asaresult, 20,000prisoners hadbeen released andthesentences of12,000othershadbeenreduced. 321.Members oftheCommittee tooknotewithsatisfaction ofthereportand commended therepresentative oftheStatepartyonitspresentation. TheCuban authorities werealsocongratulated onhavingprovided muchdetailed information demonstrating theirwill t~implement asmanyprovisions oftheConvention as possible. Further information wassoughtconcerning thedemographic distribution ofthepopulation andthelanguages spokeninCuba.Withreference tothethird congress oftheCuban Communist Partyin1988itwasobserved that ~nly18percent ofthemembers oftheCentral Committee wereblackor ofmixedrace.Inthis connection, questions wereaskedonthepractical situation facedbymixedond blackpeopleinCuba.Onememberalsoaskedwhether Cuba'sinvolvement inan ethnicconflict inEthiopia wascompatible withitsconcept ofhumanrights. Lastly,itwasinquired whether theGovernment ofCubamightbewilling tomakethe declaration underarticle 14oftheConvention. 322.Inconnection witharticle 3oftheConvention, Cuba'sroleinthestruggle against racismandApartheid washighlycommended. 323.Withregardtoarticle 4oftheConvention, clarification wassought concerning thedefinition of"anti-social acts"mentioned inthereport. Information wasrequested onthepenalties provided inarticle 349ofthePenal Codeanditwasaskedwhether therehadbeenanycasesinwhichthosepenalties had actually beenimposed. Itwasalsonotedthataccording tothereporttherewere noreasons fortheoccurrences oftheoffences underarticle 4oftheConvention. Inthatregard,itwasrecalled thatsuchprovisions asCubahadtakenunder article 4oftheConvention werenecessary, bearing inmindthatdiscrimination sometimes manifested itself indirect~y andthat,eveniftherewerenoracial discrimination inacountryatagiventime,noonecouldpredict thatunfortunate Aventswouldnotalterthatsituation inthefuture. Withregardtotheprovisions ofthenewPenalCode,further information wassought, inpa~ticular onthe measures t£ken ~gainst illegal abusesofofficebycertain groups. 324.Inconnection witharticle 5oftheConvention, members wishedtoreceive additional information ontheconditions ofdetention inCuba.Itwasasked whether thosefamilies whohadbeenallowed toemigrate totheUnitedStateswould beabletovisitCuba,andwhether Cubanswerepermitted tochooseandchangetheir employment inaccordance withtherelevant ILOConvention. Further information was alsosoughtontheimplementation byCubaoftherightstofreedom ofreligion and ofassembly andassociation, andalsoonthereportofthegroupoftheCommission unHumanRightsthatvisited Cubain1988. -64- "'1lIiif".;_"._ '...• ~330.Referring tootherquestions raisedinconnection witharticle 5ofthe Convention, therepresentative pointed outthatmorethan1,600different associations wereregistered inthecountry. Allassociations wererequired to respect theprovisions oftheConstitution andthePenalCodelaiddownpenalties forviolations ofthelawonequality orthreats tothefreedom ofothers. Concerning therighttofreedom ofreligion, sheexplained thatrelations between ChurchandStatewerecurrently beingimproved andthat,aswasshowninthebook "FidelandReligion", positive results hadalready beenachieved. Alternative formsofservice werenowavailable toconscientious objectors. Sheunderlined, however thatreligious propaganda shouldnothampertheGovernment's social welfare ~rogrammes. Lastly, shestatedthattherewasnodiscrimination with regardtoemployment andthatsalarylevelsweredetermined solelyonthebasisof skillsandqualification inaccordance withILOConvention No.111. 331.Replying toquestions askedaboutarticle 7oftheConvention, the
analysis: The text primarily focuses on Cuba's human rights situation, particularly with regards to racial discrimination and apartheid. It discusses the country's laws and policies related to these issues, as well as its international commitments and actions. While there are some mentions of education and employment, these are secondary to the main theme of human rights.