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Geneva, June 21 (RHC)-- Cuba reaffirmed Monday at the UN Human Rights Council its commitment to equality and women's empowerment in the continuation of the debates of the 50th session of the Geneva-based body.

During an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Reem Alsalem, Cuban diplomat Mirthia Julia Brossard assured that her country, under its Constitution, promotes and defends equal rights and opportunities for women.

In this regard, she highlighted the National Program for the Advancement of Women in Cuba, which she described as a cornerstone in developing policies in favor of women.

Brossard expressed her appreciation for the report presented by the rapporteur, who lamented the problem of violence suffered by women worldwide, particularly indigenous women and girls.

Alsalem considered that the advances in the data on the scourge have revealed the long road ahead to curb the phenomenon of gender-based abuse, which she considered an epidemic.

According to the expert, COVID-19 and some of the measures applied to confront it exacerbated the danger of violence. She called for lessons to be learned to avoid mistakes in future crises.

On the subject of abuses against indigenous women and girls, the Cuban representative pointed out that the lack of recognition of the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination, land tenure, and sovereignty over their natural resources is a structural factor that contributes to such violence.