Photo: ILGALAC

By María Josefina Arce 

The levels of violence against women and girls in the world are still worrying.  According to international organizations, one out of every three women on the planet has been a victim of this phenomenon, which has worsened in the almost two years of the pandemic.

Confinement to avoid contagion and the spread of HIV/AIDS, social isolation and economic insecurity have led to increased vulnerability in the home.

In Cuba, although women have been one of the most benefited segments of the population in all these decades of the Revolution and have gained in their empowerment, certain macho manifestations still persist and violence, although to a lesser degree, is a social problem in the process of being solved.

For this reason, in order to make this phenomenon visible, the National Day for NO violence against women and girls began this week, which will last until December.

For more than 30 days, not only will there be talks, workshops, radio and television programs on the subject, and debates in workplaces, but other actions in favor of the protection of this gender will also be carried out.

In this way, the opening of the Counseling Offices for the Treatment of Violence, based in the Women and Family Guidance Houses, which the FMC, Federation of Cuban Women, has in each municipality of the country, is part of the program.

In statements to the press, Yaneidis Pérez, member of the National Secretariat of the FMC, affirmed that this will be a space of trust where Cuban women can raise their situation and receive specialized help from a team of collaborators, made up of doctors, psychologists, jurists and other professionals.

Also this year, the National Program for the Advancement of Women was approved, which covers various aspects such as the economic empowerment of women, the challenge of promoting education and practice on sexual and reproductive health.

Forty-four measures are contained in this program, in full accordance with the Constitution of the Republic, the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

Awareness-raising campaigns, such as Evoluciona and Únete, are also being carried out in Cuba, as well as the establishment of a single telephone line to assist those affected.

Throughout all these years, Cuba has worked to ensure that women occupy their rightful place in society, and has made clear its position of zero tolerance to gender violence and violence within the family.