Press Release: Despite the blockade, Cuba advances in the economic empowerment of Cuban women.

New York, 13 March 2018.“In our efforts to achieve full gender equality and women's empowerment, the existence of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba remains an obstacle to the country's full development and the advancement of women. It is also a form of direct and indirect violence that impacts and hinders the enjoyment of the fundamental rights of Cuban women", said the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, who participated today in the High-Level Interactive Dialogue of the Group of 77 and China: “Innovative Practices for the Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment of Women, Especially Rural Women: Lessons from the South ", held during the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

The Cuban diplomat also pointed out that despite this scenario, Cuba has made it possible for more than 10,900 women to own the land and more than 20,000 to have been granted land ownership. On the other hand, she highlighted as an example of the alliances among different ministries of public administration, civil society organizations and the Federation of Cuban Women, the creation in the Ministry of Agriculture of the "Gender Committees", which have enriched the vision of working with women in this field.

Rodríguez Camejo concluded her statement by calling on the international community, and in particular the Group of 77 and China, to unite in action in order to overcome and eliminate poverty, illiteracy and inequalities at the regional and global levels and to implement concrete plans and programmes to ensure full autonomy of women and genuine gender equality.

Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.