Human rights defenders, journalists, and other members of civil society who criticise the Cuban Government continued to face severe restrictions and violations to their rights of freedom of assembly, association, expression and movement. The authorities continued to legally and physically prohibit peaceful activities such as reporting on human rights violations and promoting democratic reforms. However, in stark contrast to the media attention given to the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, the reality for HRDs in Cuba was virtually unreported and unknown. Under Raúl Castro, the Government continued to be as repressive as under his brother Fidel: the media remained tightly controlled and laws against antigovernment speech carry hefty penalties for those who do not acquiesce. 2011 witnessed a severe crackdown on civil society throughout the island with weekly reports of threats, violent beatings, arrests and arbitrary detentions, house arrests, and the use of tear gas against peaceful gatherings. Cuban HRDs were also regularly victims of so called actos de repudio (acts of repudiation), when pro-government mobs acting as “Rapid Response Brigades” harassed, threatened, insulted and attacked them in particular as they carried out peaceful protest actions. HRDs operating outside Havana faced additional challenges as a result of limited access to very limited support structures. Internet use was severely restricted and those who have access to it are under heavy surveillance. Whilst an increasing number of HRDs used social networking sites to inform on violations, self-censorship was often applied as a result of the disproportionate penalties that exist for political dissent. In October 2011 the human rights community in Cuba lost a brave leader when Laura Pollán, founder of Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), died in Havana.