Advocacy in action: Pastor Lorenzo, Cuba

We’ve been raising awareness, campaigning and advocating for Pastor Lorenzo since he was unjustly arrested in July 2021. And you rose up in an amazing way to support him and his family – refusing to stay silent about the unjust targeting of the family.

While we haven’t seen the victory of his unconditional release yet, we give thanks for the impact our advocacy, awareness- raising and campaigning have had.

Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve achieved together…

Your campaigning

Thousands of supporters like you in the UK have campaigned for Pastor Lorenzo’s release! The Cuban Ambassador in the UK has received over 5,000 emails about the case.

We have held two protests outside the Cuban Embassy in London, and encouraged people to write letters of hope to Pastor Lorenzo in prison, as well as to his family.

In the media

As a result of our ongoing media work, Pastor Lorenzo’s case has been covered in over 28 different media outlets using our case materials. His story has been told across blogs, TV interviews, podcasts and radio interviews.

With the UK Parliament

The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief published a statement condemning the Cuban government’s targeting of religious leaders, including Pastor Lorenzo, as a result of our advocacy.

At the United Nations

We’ve provided information about the case to several UN experts working on human rights issues, which resulted in five UN Special Procedures contacting the Cuban government.

We’ve continued raising his case regularly at the UN, including giving a statement at the Human Rights Council calling for Pastor Lorenzo’s unconditional release.

In Europe

We briefed European diplomats, which led to the EU Delegation raising Pastor Lorenzo’s case directly with the Cuban authorities. The Embassy of the Netherlands also later hosted David, Pastor Lorenzo’s son, at a meeting with European diplomats.

Nosotros shared our briefings with the European Parliament’s political groups ahead of its debate and vote on an Urgency Resolution on Cuba, which called for Pastor Lorenzo’s release.

As a result of our advocacy, senior officials in a number of embassies in Havana are in direct contact with Pastor Lorenzo’s family.

In the United States

Pastor Lorenzo has been added to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) FoRB Victims List, after we briefed staff on his case.

Senior State Department officials have raised his case, including on social media.