Voces Presas
Cuba
Voces Presas – Incarcerated Voices
ARC – Artists at Risk Connection and PEN International, in partnership with Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), present Voces Presas (Incarcerated Voices), an international campaign highlighting the cases of Cuban artists who have been imprisoned, harassed, or forced into exile for their artistic expression.
Since its launch in 2022, the campaign has brought visibility to artists targeted for their critical voices and has contributed to international awareness and advocacy efforts, including in cases where artists have been released.
Voces Presas documents the experiences of artists whose work challenges censorship and repression, and calls for the release of those who remain unjustly imprisoned, as well as for the respect and protection of artistic freedom in Cuba.
The campaign features artist profiles, testimonies, and audiovisual works, offering insight into the patterns of harassment, criminalization, and imprisonment faced by independent artists on the island.
It also calls on the international community to stand in solidarity with Cuban artists and to support sustained attention, accountability, and the protection of freedom of expression.
Recommendations
This campaign makes the following recommendations to the Cuban government, to interested organizations and individuals, as well as to members of the international community regarding the condition of artists and free expression in the country:
- The Cuban government should immediately release all imprisoned artists and guarantee the free exercise of art and activism in the country.
- The embassies of the European Union and Latin America in Cuba should demand that the government allow them to visit the three imprisoned artists to verify their conditions and should subsequently issue reports with the findings of these visits.
- Interested organizations and individuals should demand that the Cuban government remove the requirement of state approval for artists to freely exhibit their work, one of the most repressive measures of Decree 349.
Status: Imprisoned
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a Cuban multidisciplinary artist
Maria Cristina Garrido Rodriguez
Maria Cristina Garrido Rodriguez is a Cuban poet and activist
Maykel Castillo Pérez (El Osorbo)
Maykel Castillo Pérez (El Osorbo) is a Cuban rapper
Nando
OBDC
Nando OBDC is a Cuban rapper, graffiti artist, and activist
José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez
José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez is a Cuban writer & independent journalist
Status: Conditionally Released
Richard Zamora Brito (El Radikal)
Richard Zamora Brito (El Radikal) is a Cuban rapper and musician
Jessica Lisbeth Torres Calvo
Jessica Torres Calvo is a Cuban graffiti artist, tattoo artist and model
Randy Arteaga
Rivera
Randy Arteaga Rivera is an up and coming Cuban rapper
Campaign News
January 16, 2025
ARC Urges Cuban Government to Include Artists in Prisoner Release
Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), Cuban Writers in Exile PEN Centre, and PEN International welcome the Cuban government’s announcement on January 14, 2025, of a mass prisoner release mediated by Pope Francis and the Vatican following the United States’ removal of the country from its state sponsors of terrorism list. The organizations call on the Cuban authorities to include the artists who remain unjustly imprisoned on the island in this release.
July 23, 2024
Voces Presas Renews Calls for the Immediate Release of Cuban Artists
Today, Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN International, and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) announced the launch of a new phase of their Voces Presas campaign through a series of videos that showcase the stories of artists unjustly imprisoned in Cuba.
November 17, 2022
New Campaign Spotlights the Stories of Imprisoned Cuban Artists
Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) and PEN International, in partnership with Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), today launched a new campaign “Voces Presas” (Imprisoned Voices) to shine a light on the stories of imprisoned Cuban artists: poet María Cristina Garrido and rappers Richard Zamora Brito and Randy Arteaga-Rivera. The campaign calls for the release of all imprisoned artists in Cuba and the respect and guarantee of artistic freedom on the island.
Videos
Incarcerated Voices | A Campaign
Incarcerated Voices | A Campaign
In Cuba today, artists are in danger. For the simple act of creating art-whether music, film, literature, performance-or for being artivists and demonstrating peacefully, they are often imprisoned or persecuted. Many artists, harassed for expressing themselves, are “Voces Presas” (“Incarcerated Voices”)-victims of repression and state violence, who are even forced into exile. The “Voces Presas” campaign by PEN International, Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) that brings the stories of persecuted artists to the forefront of the discussion on art and human rights, issuing a global call for their immediate release.
Join the campaign and learn more about #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Follow us:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
Voces Presas | Una Campaña
Hoy en día en Cuba, los artistas están en peligro. Por el simple hecho de crear arte—ya sea música, cine, literatura, performance—o por ser artivistas y manifestarse pacíficamente, a menudo son encarcelados o perseguidos. Muchos artistas, acosados por expresarse de manera diferente, son Voces Presas—víctimas de la represión y la violencia estatal, que incluso son forzadas al exilio. La campaña "Voces Presas" de PEN Internacional, Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) y Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) visibiliza las historias de artistas perseguidos y hace un llamado global por su liberación.
Únete a la campaña y entérate de #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Síguenos:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez - Voces Presas
Como parte de “Voces Presas”, una campaña dirigida por Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN Internacional y Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), destacamos a María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez, poeta y activista cubana. Fue detenida el 12 de julio de 2021 y condenada a 7 años de prisión. Mientras cumple esa injusta condena en la prisión de El Guatao, ha sido sometida a diversos actos intimidatorios, tales como la prohibición de visitas y llamadas de familiares, así como el ostracismo, entre otras agresiones.
Conoce a María: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/maria-cristina-garrido-rodriguez
Únase a la campaña y conozca más sobre #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Síganos:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @atriskartists_esp @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
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As part of “Voces Presas”, a campaign led by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN International and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), we highlight the case of María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez, a Cuban poet and activist. She was arrested on July 12, 2021 and sentenced to 7 years in prison. While serving her unjust sentence in El Guatao prison, she has been subjected to various intimidatory tactics, such as prohibition of visits and calls from family members, as well as general ostracizing and isolation, among other aggressions.
Learn more about María: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/maria-cristina-garrido-rodriguez
Join the campaign and learn more about #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Follow us:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @atriskartists_esp @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
Maykel Castillo Pérez “el Osorbo” - Voces Presas
Como parte de “Voces Presas”, una campaña dirigida por Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN Internacional, y Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), las organizaciones destacan a Maykel Castillo Pérez, también conocido como “el Osorbo”, músico y rapero cubano, quien recibió dos Latin Grammy como coautor de la canción “Patria y Vida”. A través de sus letras reclama libertad y justicia para su país. Fue condenado a nueve años en prisión. ARC, PEN Internacional y CRD condenan enérgicamente su encarcelamiento y piden su inmediata e incondicional liberación.
Conoce a Maykel: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/maykel-castillo-perez
Únase a la campaña y conozca más sobre #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Síganos:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @atriskartists_esp @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
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As part of the “Voces Presas” campaign, led by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN International, and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), the organizations highlight the case of Maykel Castillo Pérez, also known as “el Osorbo,” a Cuban musician and rapper who has won two Latin Grammys as co-author of the song “Patria y Vida.” Through his lyrics he demands freedom and justice for his country. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. ARC, PEN International, and CRD strongly condemn his imprisonment and urge his immediate and unconditional release.
Learn more about Maykel: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/maykel-castillo-perez
Join the campaign and learn more about #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Follow us:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @atriskartists_esp @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara - Voces Presas
Como parte de “Voces Presas”, una campaña dirigida por Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN Internacional, and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), las organizaciones destacan a Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, artista multidisciplinario cubano reconocido mundialmente por su obra artística crítica y desafiante con el discurso oficial. Fue condenado a cinco años de prisión, con un juicio que se realizó a puerta cerrada. ARC, PEN Internacional y CRD condenan su encarcelamiento y piden su inmediata e incondicional liberación.
Conoce a Luis Manuel: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/luis-manuel-otero-alcantara-2
Únase a la campaña y conozca más sobre #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Síganos:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @atriskartists_esp @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
***************
As part of the “Voces Presas” campaign, led by Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), PEN International, and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), the organizations highlight the case of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a Cuban multidisciplinary artist recognized worldwide for his critical and challenging artistic work with the official discourse. Sentenced to five years in prison following a closed-door trial, ARC, PEN International, and CRD condemned his imprisonment and urged his immediate and unconditional release.
Learn more about Luis Manuel: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/story/luis-manuel-otero-alcantara-2
Join the campaign and learn more about #VocesPresas: https://bit.ly/VocesPresas
Follow us:
X: @AtRiskArtists @CRDLatin @pen_int @PEN_LAC
Instagram: @AtRiskArtists @atriskartists_esp @crdefenders @peninternational
Facebook: @AtRiskArtists @civilrightsdefenders @peninternational
José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez - Voces Presas
This video is private.
Nando OBDC - Voces Presas
This video is private.
Voces Presas 2026
This video is private.