Havana, September 7 (RHC)-- Women deputies to Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament) displayed on Tuesday women's leadership in society as part of a virtual forum with representatives of the European Parliament.

The member of the Council of State and secretary general of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Teresa Amarelle, highlighted the acknowledgment of institutions, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to the gender parity achieved by the island in the sciences.

Also,  the World Intellectual Property Organization ranked the Caribbean nation as a leader in science, with 53 percent of women inventors.

In the digital exchange, dedicated to the theme of Women's Leadership, transformations to promote gender equality, the FMC secretary praised the participation of Cuban women in political life, where they account for 53.22 percent of the seats in Parliament.

She stressed that Cuba is the second country in the world regarding female representation in the Legislative and added that this extends to the local levels of government. They occupy 52.3 percent of leadership positions and more than 80 percent of judges and prosecutors, including the attorney general.

Amarelle emphasized that it is a policy of the Cuban State to promote the development of women through the National Program for the Advancement of Women, which supports comprehensive actions and places particular emphasis on the elimination of any manifestation of discrimination and violence in society.

In this regard, she highlighted the new Family Code, the result of a democratic process of analysis and consultation, which will be submitted to a popular referendum on September 25.

Arelys Santana, president of the Parliamentary Commission for Youth, Children and Equal Rights for Women, was the dialogue moderator. She also referred to this citizen participation process and the protection of women's rights offered by the new legislation.

She also addressed the negative impact of the U.S. economic blockade on the Cuban population, particularly women, which has made it challenging to hold virtual forums by limiting access to platforms for this purpose.

Meanwhile, the member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Marta Ayala, director of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, highlighted women's role in science, especially in that institution.

Of the more than 1,600 workers at the center, 56 percent are women, she said. They are also in the majority among those who hold scientific degrees and contribute to producing medicines such as the anti-Covid-19 Abdala and Mambisa vaccines, the recombinant immunogen against hepatitis B, and Heberprot P to treat diabetic foot ulcers.