CUBA: Raúl Castro Ruz Chaired Federation of Cuban Women 50th Anniversary Ceremony

Cuban president Raúl Castro Ruz chaired the political-cultural ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). On this occasion, Raúl commended the role played by women in the success of the Cuban Revolution.

At this ceremony, Cuban vicepresident José Ramón Machado Ventura spoke about the participation of women in economic, social, scientific, cultural and political activities, among others.

Machado Ventura recalled the discrimination women were subjected before the triumph of the revolution and said that ,due to this situation, the Cuban government made changes in favor of full equality and integration, which is a task that involves the whole society, institutions and organizations. The atmosphere of equality and respect created by the revolution allowed women to develop their potentials as human beings, and thus, feel achieved.

To achieve this, the FMC was founded a half century ago, chaired by the unforgettable Vilma Espín, who played an important role in this organization. She accomplished Fidel´s ideas in terms of equality and social justice, said Machado Ventura.

Ventura pointed out that more than 4,237,383 women have already joined this organization, the highest membership in the history of the FMC. Likewise, he talked about the strong efforts made during the 1980´s to provide half million women with access to sixth and ninth grade. Thanks to this initiative, a great number of women have access to school for educational upgrading.

Currently, women represent the 46.7 percent of the civil workforce, while 65.1 percent are technicians and professionals: teachers, researchers, doctors, scientists, engineers, and others.

Ventura quoted Fidel when he said "The Federation is also responsible for all the concerns women could have and must defend those interests within the Party and the State."

The Cuban vice president recalled that their main task is to defend the revolution wherever, especially today, when our historic enemy continues promoting frivolousness and lack of interest.

He also acknowledged the contribution of this organization to the development of the internationalist spirit among Cuban women, who currently work hard to provide the most in need with health education and hope. An example of this is the brigades serving in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua, which have accomplished an important psycho-social and clinical-genetic research.
The role played by the FMC has allowed expressing our support for just causes in different ways as well as to spread our reality and denounce those campaigns against the revolution and contribute to the increase of solidarity with Cuba, said Ventura.

At the ceremony, attended by top FMC members, the messages sent by Gerardo Hernandez and Antonio Guerrero on the occasion of the celebration were read.
At the event, Yolanda Ferrer Raúl delivered a tablet containing the full text of the FMC commitment to Raul.

Likewise, at the beginning of the ceremony, participants enjoyed the documentary Sentirse Mujer, by the filmmaker and journalist Maura Eva Diaz, where the work of women and their development in society were central themes.

Attending the act were members of the PCC and State, political and mass organizations as well as relatives of the five Cubans held in US prisons.