This Wednesday, the Cuban regime acknowledged 134 members of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) by bestowing upon them the Medal "For the Defense of the Homeland and Neighborhood Unity." This was formalized under Presidential Decree 1284, signed by Miguel Díaz-Canel on September 3, 2026, and published in the Extraordinary Special Official Gazette No. 16 of 2026, spanning pages 4 to 8.
The award ceremony marks the 66th anniversary of the CDRs, celebrated on September 28, commemorating the organization's founding by Fidel Castro in 1960.
According to the decree, the medal is governed by Decree-Law 109, "Regulation of Law 170 of the System of Honorary Titles and Decorations," which was approved in September 2025.
Article 6, section c), number 15 of this regulation states that the distinction is given to those who have maintained "uninterrupted work in support and function of the CDR's tasks," as well as those who perform "noteworthy acts or take on attitudes demonstrating loyalty and fidelity to the revolutionary cause."
The decree also specifies that the medal may be awarded for "systematically confronting and combating manifestations of crime, illegality, antisocial, and counterrevolutionary activities," or for fulfilling special missions in response to such events.
The National Executive Secretariat of the CDR proposed the list of honorees. According to the decree, this proposal was made "in recognition of their political and revolutionary trajectory, as well as their dedication to the tasks of the organization."
The 134 awardees hail from every province in the country: Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo.
The decree assigns Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, the National Coordinator of the CDRs and former spy, as responsible for managing "everything related to the imposition and delivery of this Medal."
Special Official Gazette No. 16 of 2026 also includes five other presidential decrees bestowing different honors: the "Merit Sport" Order (DP 1282), the "Friendship" Medal (DP 1283), the "Labor Feat" Medal (DP 1286), the "Jesús Menéndez" Medal (DP 1287), and the "Internationalist Worker" Medal (DP 1289).
The distribution of these awards comes at a time when the CDRs are widely acknowledged to be in decline, facing dwindling public participation and an aging membership.
In May 2026, Hernández Nordelo himself called for "revitalizing" the CDRs in light of this structural deterioration, and in March, the regime launched the initiative "My Neighborhood for the Homeland" as a strengthened version of the organization aimed at regaining political control at the neighborhood level.
The national event for the 66th anniversary will take place on September 28 in Matanzas, the province declared Vanguard in the annual CDRs competition for 2026.
Understanding the Cuban Regime's Latest CDR Awards
What is the significance of the Medal "For the Defense of the Homeland and Neighborhood Unity"?
The medal recognizes individuals who have shown continuous commitment and loyalty to the CDRs, supporting its initiatives and demonstrating fidelity to the revolutionary cause.
Why are the CDRs considered to be in decline?
The CDRs are experiencing a decrease in citizen participation and an aging membership, which has prompted calls for revitalization and new initiatives to regain influence and control.