‘For us socialism means freedom, sovereignty, dignity’

Below is the statement issued by the Federation of Cuban Women March 15, several days before President Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba. Translation is by the Militant.

Cuban women, as a part of our people as a whole, will welcome U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle with the hospitality and dignity that characterizes us. We are aware that this visit is part of the complex process of normalizing relations between our two governments. It will, therefore, be an opportunity to show them what we have achieved in gender equality and the leading role that women play in the political, economic, cultural and social life of our country.

During their visit they will be able to see that we receive equal pay for equal work, that the governments in nine of the 15 Cuban provinces are headed by women, that the administration of justice is also largely in women’s hands. Everywhere they go they will witness the selfless efforts of women of all generations.

They will see firsthand how much we love our free and independent country, which we have defended from attacks of all kinds. For more than half a century we have resisted an economic, financial and commercial blockade with creativity and dedication. We have built a society where human beings are the most important factor, and have educated our children in these values of solidarity, anti-imperialism and national sovereignty. We will never renounce these achievements.

The Federation of Cuban Women, a nongovernmental organization in civil society with consultative status in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), brings together more than 4 million Cuban women — some 90 percent of women over 14. We carry out specific programs to develop a culture of full equality and social inclusion in our country. Many of the objectives in Goal 5 of the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, are today a reality in our country.

We know that Michelle Obama is promoting a major initiative called “Let Girls Learn,” with the aim of providing access to education to 62 million girls around the world. We offer our humble experience in this field, since 100 percent of our girls attend school regardless of where they live, the color of their skin, whether they have a disability or are hospitalized. A Cuban woman, Leonela Relys Díaz, created the “Yes I Can” method, through which millions of people worldwide have learned to read and write.

In addition, this will be an opportunity to reiterate our demand to end the inhumane blockade against our country, which has led to many hardships and prevented us from developing even more than we have.

The Federation of Cuban Women also supports the statements of our government demanding an end to the occupation of the territory of the Guantánamo naval base, the repeal of the Cuban Adjustment Act and the “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy, and the elimination of interventionist programs aimed at inciting internal destabilization. These policies threaten the security and tranquility of our families.

Today the words of Vilma Espín, forever the president of our organization, are more relevant than ever for all our members: “For Cuban women, socialism means freedom, independence, sovereignty, dignity, social justice, and security in the education and development of our children, as well as the right to equality, to life, to decide our own destiny, to work for the future we dream of and to defend it with all our strength.”

Related articles:
US out of Guantánamo! End Cuba embargo now!
Socialist Workers Party campaign statement
As Obama visits, Cuban people defend revolution
Cuban women’s leaders speak on gains of revolution
End embargo, says Cuban official in Bay Area tour
Letter: Cuba mobilizes against Zika virus

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