Mr. President,
Gender stereotypes are not merely social perceptions. They are both a cause and a consequence of discrimination.
Integrating a gender perspective, including into the work of the Human Rights Council, is essential to promoting gender equality.
Despite the progress achieved, deeply rooted practices persist in our societies that prevent women and girls from fully developing their potential.
Much remains to be done to eradicate patriarchal patterns and advance towards more just, equal, and sustainable societies. Legal transformations alone are not sufficient. They must be translated into everyday practices, social awareness, and justice in practice.
Far from neutralizing these patterns, new digital technologies have reproduced and amplified them on a large scale.
Concrete action is required to reverse these harmful practices.
Ensuring inclusive, free, and quality education at all stages of life is fundamental to this effort.
Programs are needed to encourage girls to pursue studies and access employment in non-traditional fields.
More and better educational and advertising campaigns should be promoted through the media and digital networks to foster respect for the equality and dignity of women.
A draft resolution aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls in the context of digital technologies has been presented to this Council. It is a positive contribution to this issue, and our delegation supports it.
Cuba will continue to contribute actively and constructively to all efforts to achieve gender equality.
Thank you very much.