CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Press release on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

Women in the face of current challenges

Today, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Cuba reiterates its firm commitment to the full participation of women in all realms of society.

Regrettably, over 15 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the commitments made in those important documents have not yet been met.

Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science, and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work, require the strong commitment and political will of all countries. 

Feminized poverty in the world remains a great concern. Sixty per cent of the poor are women. Conflicts, invasions, foreign occupation, and the imposition of blockades and unilateral coercive measures have a negative impact on women and girls.

Since the Revolution triumphed in 1959, Cuba has developed a strategy aimed at gender equality, and undertaken, in a fully responsible and serious manner, international commitments on the matter. It was the first country to sign and the second one to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The Cuban social project is characterized by free and universal access to education and health care, and the increasing participation of women in all spheres of social life. Cuba has already achieved the Millennium Development Goal 3, aimed at promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Cuban women account for 67.8% of university graduates in Cuba, 66% of technical and professional workers, and 43% of members of the Parliament. At present, 14,314 girls are studying in centers that are designed, equipped, and have specialized personnel to satisfy special educational needs. Women represent 53.2% of all Cuban scientists and 48% of workers in the science and technology system.

Cuba will continue working at the national and international levels, including in the United Nations framework, in favor of gender equality and the empowerment of women. 

New York, 8 March 2011

(Cubaminrex-Misión ONU)