A Triad Repressing Religious Freedom is Led by Three Latin American Authoritarian Governments

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:  

Patterns of Religious Repression in Latin America’s Authoritarian Triad – Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are the most clearly authoritarian states in Latin America and the region’s most flagrant FoRB violators. All three countries use similar methods of repressing religious freedom, including harassment of religious communities, legal obstruction, favoritism toward certain religious groups, and closure of civic space. This report focuses on the parallel strategies used by the authoritarian governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to violate freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended both Cuba and Nicaragua to be designated as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and highlighted FoRB violations in Venezuela. USCIRF has held hearings on religious freedom violations in Cuba and Nicaragua, and has also produced Country Updates on Cuba and Nicaragua. 

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].