MADRID, Spain.—The civic platform Pasos de Cambio published this Tuesday the document “Guidelines for Citizen Mobilization for Change in Cuba,” a compendium of proposals presented by Cuban citizens and organizations inside and outside the country, with the aim of guiding and strengthening efforts to achieve a democratic transition on the island.
The document, with a deadline of April 21, 2025, is the result of a call launched in March by the currently imprisoned opposition leader and UNPACU leader, José Daniel Ferrer. Participants included signatories of the Agreement for Democracy, as well as academics, activists, and unaffiliated citizens, who proposed structured measures to advance toward a democratic, pluralistic Cuba free of totalitarianism.
According to Pasos de Cambio, most of the proposals agree on the need for a sustained, organized, and nonviolent strategy based on peaceful demonstrations, civil disobedience, and international pressure, as well as the strengthening of local coordination networks, independent media, and an autonomous economy.
Five Axes for Change
The executive summary establishes the main lines of action for citizen mobilization:
Nonviolent civil disobedience: Protests, cacerolazos, student strikes, boycotts, and information campaigns are promoted as tools to highlight popular discontent and delegitimize the regime.
Citizen Organization: The plan advocates building coordination networks within the island, including underground ones, with logistical and training support from the Cuban diaspora.
Roadmap to Democracy: The plan includes five stages, from respect for fundamental rights and the release of political prisoners to holding free elections and establishing a full democracy.
International Pressure: The need to document repression, mobilize campaigns, and generate advocacy with governments, parliaments, and multilateral organizations is emphasized.
Strengthening Independent Media and the Economy: Support for free media and open internet access is proposed, as well as the promotion of independent economic ventures.
A Response to the Current Context
Rosa María Payá, executive director of the Foundation for Pan American Democracy, emphasized that the recent student protests and the constant expression of citizen discontent show that “Cubans are already mobilized, ready, and determined to achieve change.”
For his part, Alian Collazo, leader of the Cuban Freedom March, affirmed that the document “is a testament to the resilience and thirst for change of the Cuban people” and that it reflects “a collective will to break with misery and repression.”
In recent weeks, university students have staged protests at various institutions across the country, demanding fair rates for internet access and demanding respect for free thought and the right to dignity.
The March Call for Proposals
The published document is the result of an open call for proposals held by Pasos de Cambio between March 5 and April 21, 2025, inviting proposals in three key areas:
- Democratic transition in Cuba, including transitional justice, the economy, health, education, and the armed forces.
- Citizen mobilization, focusing on concrete actions that citizens inside and outside Cuba can take.
- U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba, with suggested measures that Washington could adopt to support democratization.
