CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Words for the commemoration of the centenary of the International Women's Day.

Hon. Dame Hon. Monica Dacon, Deputy Governor General
Mrs. Eloise Gonsalves, Spouse of the Prime Minister, Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves
Lady Antrobus, widow of the former Governor General, Hon. Sir Charles Antrobus
Mrs. Lucy Cato, Widow of the former Prime Minister, Hon. Mr. Milton Cato
Board of the National Council of Women of St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Distinguished guests and friends
Dear Cuban women

On behalf of the women of the Cuban community in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we welcome you all, representing the most outstanding women from all sectors of the Vincentian society, to commemorate together the centenary of the International Women's Day.

This Day was established on the proposal of the German fighter Clara Zetkin and was first celebrated in Europe in 1911. Since then International Women's Day has gained increasing relevance, celebrated worldwide as an international day of the struggle for women's rights, among them, the right to vote, the right to work, the right to education and employment non discrimination.

The growing international movement of the women, reinforced by the United Nations through four world conferences on the subject, has helped make this commemoration a point of convergence of the coordinated activities for women's rights and participation in political, economic and social life. The official subject for this year 2011 is "Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Road to decent work for women".

Cuban women have had a very prominent role in all struggles for independence and national sovereignty.  Our national hero Jose Marti said: “The struggles waged by the peoples are weak only when it does not join the heart of the woman". Cuban women have been true reflection of this.

Since 1934 the Cuban women enjoy the right to vote.

Since the Revolution of 1959 were opened new perspectives in all spheres for the Cuban woman, taking part with the man in the development process not only as beneficiaries but as active participants in this process.

The Cuban women are the 49.9% of our population of 11 236 099 inhabitants. We have today a life expectancy of 80,02 years. We represent the 46.7% of the labor force. If before 1959  we were the most illiterate in the country, today we are the 65.7% of all professional and technicians, the 51,6% of all researchers,  the 67.8% of all the University graduates, the 53.4% of all Higher Education professors,  the 43,32% in our Parliament (second place in the world), the 40%  of the members  of the Council of State, the 73,7% of all attorneys of the country, the 71,4% of the Provincial Presidents of the Courts, the 71,3%  of the  professional judges, among other achievements.  These have been obtained in spite of a difficult economic situation, greatly exacerbated by the cruel and unjust blockade that the U.S. government has imposed to Cuba for over 50 years.

Cuba was the first country in signing and the second one in ratifying the Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). In 1997, the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba adopted a National Plan of Action to follow up the IV World UN Conference for Women.
The national Machinery for the advancement of women is the Federation of Cuban Women that gathers more than 4 million women, founded by the Heroin of the Revolution, Vilma Espín. 
Serve this day to remember all women in the world fighting for their rights, for peace, against war, for the preservation of the environment and for new generations could have a better future.
Also, to acknowledge the work of the Vincentian women who contribute much to this society.
In this centenary of International Women's Day, get our thoughts and sympathy to the mothers, wives and children of Cuban Five unjustly imprisoned in U.S. for fighting terrorism against our Motherland.

Thank you very much.

(Cubaminrex-Embacuba San Vicente y las Granadinas)