President of the UN General Assembly recognizes Cuba’s progress on gender issues

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 19 (ACN) Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the UN General Assembly, recognized the gender advances in Cuba, after meeting in New York with Teresa Amarelle, Secretary General of the Federation of Cuban Women.

Through her official Twitter account, the high representative said they discussed issues relevant to women in all parts of the world, including equal opportunities, reported Prensa Latina.

I am happy to know that women represent 53 percent of the Cuban parliament,” she said.

The office of the spokeswoman for the president of the General Assembly confirmed to the news agency that Espinosa had accepted the invitation to visit FMC headquarters on her next visit to Havana in April.

Amarelle shared her views on Cuba’s progress on gender issues, including recent changes to the Constitution to guarantee sexual and reproductive rights, and state protection in cases of violence against women and girls.

The FMC Secretary General reaffirmed Cuba’s support for the adoption of the final document of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which culminates on March 22.

The 63rd edition of this event, which is considered the largest event on gender equity in the world, focuses on social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the empowerment of women and the link with sustainable development, as detailed by the organizers.

Government representatives, specialists and civil society activists from all latitudes meet at the CSW.

 In Cuba, 53 percent of parliamentarians are women, as well as 65 percent of university graduates and more than 40 percent of the labor force, according to UN figures.

Prensa Latina also reported that on this day Amarelle participated in a parallel event to the CSW chaired by the First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta.

Kenyatta praised the partnership between Kenya and Cuba in the area of health, and the island’s representation reaffirmed that it will continue to strengthen collaboration in this area.

The Federation of Cuban Women, created in 1960 to fight for gender equality and the emancipation of women, currently has more than four million members throughout the Caribbean nation and recently held its X Congress.