and illness After an international campaign that included his designation as an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience and a request by France Libertés, the organization founded by former French first lady Danielle Mitterrand, Arcos was released in 1995. A few weeks after his release, Arcos was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in the rectum, for which he had previously been denied medicine and treatment in prison. After a Cuban doctor was fired from his post for treating Arocs, he traveled to Miami for further care. In 1996 he testified before the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, and in 1997 was awarded the first Human Rights Award given by the Spanish-Cuban Foundation (Fundación Hispano-Cubana). Arcos died in the family home in Miami on December 22, 1997. After his death, US President Bill Clinton described him as "a courageous and tireless activist for human rights, democracy and freedom in Cuba", while Cuban human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez Santa Cruz called him "irreplaceable" to the dissident movement. Family Arcos had two children, Sebastian and Maria Rosa. He also had a brother named Luis Arcos Bergnes. See also Human Rights in Cuba References 1931 births 1997 deaths Amnesty International prisoners of conscience held by Cuba Cuban dissidents Cuban politicians People from Caibarién People of the Cuban Revolution Cuban prisoners and detainees