---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 6039"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "6039"
heading: "Authorization of support for democratic and human rights groups and international observers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/6039"
units:
  - "Chapter 69A — Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (libertad)"
  - "Subchapter I — Strengthening International Sanctions Against the Castro Government"
---

# §6039. Authorization of support for democratic and human rights groups and international observers

- (a) **Authorization—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including [section 6032 of this title](/usc/22/6032.md)), except for [section 2394–1 of this title](/usc/22/2394–1.md) and comparable notification requirements contained in any Act making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, the President is authorized to furnish assistance and provide other [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) democracy-building efforts for Cuba, including the following:
  - (1) Published and informational matter, such as books, videos, and cassettes, on transitions to democracy, human rights, and market economies, to be made available to independent democratic groups in Cuba.
  - (2) Humanitarian assistance to victims of political repression, and their families.
  - (3) [Support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) for democratic and human rights groups in Cuba.
  - (4) [Support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) for visits and permanent deployment of independent international human rights monitors in Cuba.
- (b) **OAS emergency fund—**
  - (1) **For support of human rights and elections—** The President shall take the necessary steps to encourage the Organization of American States to create a special emergency fund for the explicit purpose of deploying human rights observers, election [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12), and election observation in Cuba.
  - (2) **Action of other member states—** The President should instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to encourage other member states of the Organization to join in calling for the [Cuban Government](/usc/22/6023.md?p=5-A) to allow the immediate deployment of independent human rights monitors of the Organization throughout Cuba and on-site visits to Cuba by the Inter-American [Commission](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2) on Human Rights.
  - (3) **Voluntary contributions for fund—** Notwithstanding [section 2227 of this title](/usc/22/2227.md) or any other provision of law limiting the United States proportionate share of assistance to Cuba by any international organization, the President should provide not less than $5,000,000 of the voluntary contributions of the United States to the Organization of American States solely for the purposes of the special fund referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
- (c) **Denial of funds to Cuban Government—** In implementing this section, the President shall take all necessary steps to ensure that no funds or other assistance is provided to the [Cuban Government](/usc/22/6023.md?p=5-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–114, title I, § 109, Mar. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 799.)