NEW YORK, 14 March 2019.- The Secretary-General of the Federation of Cuban Women and Member of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, Teresa Amarelle Boué, participated today at the general debate of the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CWS). During the event, she spoke about the progress the island has made in terms of social protection and gender equality, being considered as a benchmark in Latin America and the world regarding social indicators, despite the harmful consequences for Cuban women of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States.
The senior official recognized that international instruments are not enough to transform the reality in which millions of women still live worldwide, but that there must be a real political will for their implementation within each of the States. She added that in the Cuban case, the new Constitution explicitly ratifies the principle of equality and non-discrimination, and guarantees and endorses human rights in accordance with the current reality and the transformations that have been taking place in the Cuban society.
Amarelle Boué enumerated the many achievements attained and spaces gained by women in Cuba, which represent 49% of the workforce in the civil state sector and 34% of self-employed workers. Their presence is higher than that of men in all levels of education, including higher education, where 65% of students enrolled and 66% of the teaching staff are women.
Regarding women’s empowerment, Cuba has experienced a sustained growth with 50% of women holding managerial positions. In the Parliament, 53.22% of the parliamentarians are women, and they hold two of the three highest positions of this body. They constitute 48.4% of the members of the Council of State, where 33% are Ministers. They represent 78% of prosecuting attorneys and 77.5% of professional judges, she said.
The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC, Spanish acronym), is a non-governmental organization with consultative status to ECOSOC. It gathers more than 4 million Cuban women. It holds that the struggle for gender equality is not only an issue in defense of the legitimate rights of a sector of the population, but an indispensable condition for sustainable development with social justice.(Cubaminrex-Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)
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Statement by Teresa Amarelle Boué, Secretary General of the Federation of the Cuban Women and Member of the Council of the State of the Republic of Cuba to the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
“Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls”
New York, 14 March 2019.
Madame Chair,
On behalf of the Cuban government and people, I convey greetings to you and to the distinguished personalities attending this 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The priority issue is of significant importance in order to seek viable alternatives that contribute to transforming the reality in which millions of women are still living worldwide. It is not enough for rights to be recognized in international instruments or laws to be passed, if there is no genuine political will within each of the States for their implementation.
Cuba has achieved progress in the area of social protection, which has made it a benchmark for social indicators in Latin America and the world.
The policies and programs implemented have guided the existence and improvement of the Social Protection System. Although perfectible, this System provides a guarantee of tranquility and safety for Cuban families.
The new Constitution of the Republic explicitly reaffirms the principle of equality and non-discrimination, guarantees and upholds human rights in accordance with the current reality and the national transformations that have been taking place. It further ensures that women can exercise their sexual and reproductive rights, protects them from violence in all its manifestations and spaces, and creates the institutional and legal mechanisms for this purpose, thereby reinforcing the State's express commitment to the principle of gender equality.
Employment is a key element of Social Security on the Island. Therefore, the first social protection for Cuban women and men is to be guaranteed a decent job.
Women represent 49 per cent of the labor force in the civil state sector and 34 per cent of the self-employed sector. All have equal rights and opportunities.
Universal and free education –the right of all persons– is a strategic foundation for promoting the participation and empowerment of women and girls, as well as advancing in the eradication of prejudice and all types of discrimination and violence.
The presence of women in education is greater than that of men. With respect to university enrolment, 65 per cent are women, representing 53.7 per cent of graduates from natural sciences and mathematics, and 66.9 per cent of graduates from medical sciences. Women also constitute 66 per cent of Higher Education teaching staff and make up 48 per cent of the scientific sector.
The promotion of women to managerial positions has experienced a sustained growth of 50 per cent of posts. In addition, women make up 53.22 per cent of Parliament and hold two of the three highest ranking positions of this body. They also constitute 48.4 per cent of the State Council and 33 per cent are women Ministers. They represent 78 per cent of prosecutors and 77.5 per cent of professional judges.
The rights to education, health, sports, recreation, culture, effective legal protection, participation in the establishment, exercise and control of state power, social security and assistance, among others, are government priorities in Cuba, for which more than 60 per cent of the budget is earmarked.
Madame Chair,
Despite the harmful consequences for Cuban women of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States, progress in the field of gender equality is undeniable. Although the challenges have been identified, it is necessary to reverse behaviors and practices that persist and reproduce sexist stereotypes, especially in the private sphere.
In Cuba, gender equality is a political will. Processes and mechanisms have been effectively implemented to allow SDG 5 to be included in legislation, programs, plans and budgets. This is reflected in the results of the Performance Audit carried out in 2018 by the Comptroller General of the Republic of Cuba, being ranked as "Optimized".
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to the Declaration and Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international instruments.
The struggle for gender equality in our country is not only a matter of defending the legitimate rights of a population group, but an indispensable condition for sustainable development with social justice.
Thank you very much
(Cubaminrex-Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)