News
Cuban Minister Highlights in Geneva Achievements in Gender Equality
In recent years, there have been significant changes in the Cuban economy and society that contributed to the progress already achieved in gender equality, Justice Minister Maria Esther Reus said in this capital today.
Source
Prensa Latina
Date
In recent years, there have been significant changes in the Cuban economy and society that contributed to the progress already achieved in gender equality, Justice Minister Maria Esther Reus said in this capital today.
After presenting her country's report at the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the minister stressed the significance of the adoption by the National Assembly (Parliament) of the guidelines of the economic and social policy.
"This process was a genuine experience of democracy and direct consultation to citizens, in which women have been active participants," she stated.
Reus said that since the previous report in 2006, her country had adopted new rules that expand the legislative basis of human rights, such as those relating to social security, housing, non-state employment, the growing creation of cooperatives, and the delivery of lands in usufruct.
"More than 17,000 Cubans have been granted possession of land, with full access to credit, technical assistance and other opportunities or reported.
The minister recalled that multiple laws, policies, and programs have been applied since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, allowing the actual exercise of gender equality and women empowerment.
She informed that in the February 2013 elections, the country reached the highest number of females in the Parliament, reaching 48.86 percent, with which the goals set by the Beijing Platform for Action are over-fulfilled.
The minister said that the report submitted to the committee for consideration is the result of a broad and participatory consultation process, which involved many government and state institutions, Parliament, non-governmental organizations, and other entities.
Reus recalled in her speech that the island has had to face the blockade imposed by the United States for more than five decades that, due to its negative impact in all aspects of life of the Cuban people and its women, is the main obstacle for the realization of human rights.
After presenting her country's report at the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the minister stressed the significance of the adoption by the National Assembly (Parliament) of the guidelines of the economic and social policy.
"This process was a genuine experience of democracy and direct consultation to citizens, in which women have been active participants," she stated.
Reus said that since the previous report in 2006, her country had adopted new rules that expand the legislative basis of human rights, such as those relating to social security, housing, non-state employment, the growing creation of cooperatives, and the delivery of lands in usufruct.
"More than 17,000 Cubans have been granted possession of land, with full access to credit, technical assistance and other opportunities or reported.
The minister recalled that multiple laws, policies, and programs have been applied since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, allowing the actual exercise of gender equality and women empowerment.
She informed that in the February 2013 elections, the country reached the highest number of females in the Parliament, reaching 48.86 percent, with which the goals set by the Beijing Platform for Action are over-fulfilled.
The minister said that the report submitted to the committee for consideration is the result of a broad and participatory consultation process, which involved many government and state institutions, Parliament, non-governmental organizations, and other entities.
Reus recalled in her speech that the island has had to face the blockade imposed by the United States for more than five decades that, due to its negative impact in all aspects of life of the Cuban people and its women, is the main obstacle for the realization of human rights.