Havana, August 24 (RHC) --Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel awarded the Mariana Grajales order to four remarkable women for their defense of the Revolution, on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the founding of the entity that groups them.

In a ceremony in Havana on Monday,  the Ana Betancourt order was also awarded to two members of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC).

According to Osmayda Hernández, a member of the FMC national Secretariat, the event was an opportunity to award August 23 distinction to  FMC members with more than 20 years of uninterrupted work, as well as a commemorative stamp.

The orders are granted to Cuban citizens for relevant merits, acquired for their loyalty to the revolutionary and internationalist ideals and extraordinary attitude in creative work, defense and study, said Hernandez.

The Federation, which currently has more than four million members, was founded on August 23, 1960, to promote equality and emancipation of this population sector.

With Vilma Espín as its founding president, from the beginning, played a decisive role in modifying patriarchal customs and taboos.

Gaps persist, and for this reason, the National Program for the Advancement of Women was approved this year by Presidential Decree 198.

It is considered a cornerstone in promoting new policies in favor of women while giving continuity to the inclusive work of the Revolution since 1959.