Warmly welcoming and highly appreciating the delegation’s visit to Vietnam, VWU’s President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa emphasized the relationship of solidarity and loyalty between the two Parties, States, people and women’s organizations and shared the loss of Cuban Party, Government and people over heroine Melba Hernandez’s passing. on this occasion, VWU’s President also congratulated the Federation of Cuban Women on the success of the 9th Cuban Women’s Congress and congratulated Ms. Teresa for having been re-elected as General Secretary. “The visit would be an opportunity for the two women’s organizations to share information and experiences on women’s movement and gender equality promotion”, President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa said.
Expressing her gratitude for the VWU’s warm welcome and hospitality for the delegation, Ms. Teresa Maria Amerelle Boue considered this Vietnam visit a landmark in consolidating relations between the two women’s organizations. Ms. Teresa shared information about the Federation of Cuban Women and the status of women in Cuba. Federation of Cuban Women successfully organized IX Congress with an improved organizational structure and clear identification of the Federation’s orientation. The Congress was well-prepared with the active participation, discussion by 3 million members, who made more than 700 recommendations. All the recommendations were summarized and presented at the Congress, which highlighted women’s self-decision.
Cuban women have made impressive achievements of gender equality and participation in economic development, family building and state governance.Women enjoy equality with men in terms of job opportunity and salary. Women account for 48% in state agencies. In some fields like education, health and justice, women account for 70%. The proportion of women members in the Cuba National Assembly is 48-50%. Ten provinces have female leaders and women have 40% representation in People’s Councils of all levels; two out of five members of Cuba Council of State and 63% of university lecturers are female. Women account for over 60% of technical sector workforce. Cuba ranks 3rd in the world regarding women’s representation in the parliament. Federation of Cuban Women is one of the key mass organizations of the Cuban Revolution. The Federation has over 4 million members, representing 90% of the women aged 14 and above. The Federation aims at ensuring women’s equal rights and opportunities and promoting women’s active participation in the country’s political, economic and social life. Recently the Federation of Cuban Women has been promoting women’s participation in private business, self business set-up and economic development. Ms. Teresa hoped that the Federation of Cuban Women could learn valuable experiences from VWU in this issue.
Ms. Thanh Hoa expressed her impression on the success of Cuba and the Federation of Cuban Women in promoting gender equality and women’s role in protecting the revolution’s achievements, and in national construction and development. Highly appreciating the organizing method of Cuban Women’s Congress, Ms. Thanh Hoa asserted that nearly 100% members giving their comments to the Congress agenda showed solidarity, enthusiasm, and ownership of the Federation’s members.
VWU’s President also shared with the delegation information about VWU, its main tasks, women’s movement and gender equality in Viet Nam. The President believed that the delegation’s visit was to assert faithful feelings of Vietnam, Vietnam Women's Union towards the Cuban people and women. The two organizations are to inherit and develop the traditional relationship between two countries which was laid by President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro and fostered by the two countries' leaders. Wishing the delegation a good visit in Vietnam, VWU’s President hoped that two women’s organizations would have more exchange activities in order to share experiences and strengthen the friendship between people and women of two countries.
After the meeting, the delegation had a meeting with VWU staff to share information on Cuban women and the Federation of Cuba Women’s activities.
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Federation of Cuban Women and VWU’s leaders |
