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The country's highest authorities maintain a systematic and fluid dialogue with the various sectors of Cuban society, to listen to their concerns, opinions and suggestions on possible solutions to existing problems.
By María Josefina Arce
The country's highest authorities maintain a systematic and fluid dialogue with the various sectors of Cuban society, to listen to their concerns, opinions and suggestions on possible solutions to existing problems.
Leaders, workers, students, women, intellectuals and representatives of organizations for people with disabilities have met in recent weeks with President Miguel Díaz Canel and other government officials, to improve the work of attention to the different segments of the population.
It is in the interest of the country's leadership, the president has reaffirmed, this type of meetings to join forces and intelligence in the search for solutions to problems and to advance in the improvement of society.
And in this path, women play an essential role, as the Cuban president emphasized, as they are strongly present in the different spheres of the socioeconomic life of the nation.
In the most recent meeting, the second in less than a year, it was emphasized how much progress has been made in the empowerment of women. And these are not just words, it is a reality of today's Cuba, recognized by international organizations.
Thus, Cuba is the second of the five countries in the world to achieve parity in Parliament. A recent report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union also places Cuba as the second nation in the world with the highest proportion of women deputies.
In addition, Cuban women represent 70.4% of health workers. Their performance in confronting COVID 19 in the different institutions and in the doctor's and nurse's offices in the community, as well as in other states in solidarity missions, was praiseworthy.
They are also an important part of the scientific community, representing 53% of the members of this sector, who overcame the obstacles imposed by the U.S. blockade and gave life to three vaccines against the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
In fact, 60% of the country's researchers are women, and about 78% of the total number of innovations and clinical trials currently being carried out are led by women, while more than one hundred are members of international scientific societies.
However, as the authorities point out, there is still a long way to go, as there are still manifestations of discrimination and gender violence. Hence the importance of the National Plan for the Advancement of Women, approved in October 2020 by the Council of Ministers.
During the meeting of the highest authorities with women, one of the aspects discussed was precisely how the implementation of this plan, which is the cornerstone in the development of policies in favor of this population segment, is progressing.
Women, stressed the Cuban president, have earned a prominent place in history, and contribute with their efforts to the development of the country, so it is essential for the state to respond to their concerns and a solution to the problems that affect them and hinder their empowerment.