Cuba’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment • Workers

Cuba brought its experience and commitment to empowering an important sector of society such as women to the Third Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies, held earlier this week in Mexico.

Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, in January 1959, Cuban women have begun to actively participate in all areas of the country’s life, and the field of international relations has been no exception.

A new era began for women, who had a prominent presence in diplomatic activity throughout these decades.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez explained in his speech during the meeting that 43% of the total ambassadors currently are women and that 279 female diplomats work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From their position, they have shown signs of courage and dedication in defending the principles of international law, the homeland and the Cuban people, and in favor of the disadvantaged of the world.

They also contributed to the development of relations between the Greater Antilles and other countries and were the protagonists of complex operations in Cuban diplomatic work.

The active presence of Cuban women in this field is the result of the Revolution’s decades-long strategy to promote equal opportunities, a strategy that has been reinforced by the implementation of National Program for the Advancement of Women.

This program expands the decisive influence of the revolution in this area, said Teresa Amaril, Secretary General of the Federation of Cuban Women. Women currently represent 56% of the deputies in the National Assembly of People’s Power, and have a significant presence in important sectors such as science, health and education.

This initiative also takes into account the current circumstances of the country, the challenges they generate, and the discriminatory manifestations that still exist in Cuban society in order to continue working towards their elimination.

It is a mechanism that reflects the will and commitment of the Cuban State to gender equality and the elimination of stereotypes that slow down the progress of women, a fundamental force in the economic, political and social life of the country, as the authorities have highlighted.Taken from RHC)