LONDON – 5th September 2025 – Ambassador Ismara Vargas Walter delivered a heartfelt address on Friday 5th September at Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan, Wales, on the occasion of the screening of the documentary Cubanas, Mujeres en Revolución. The event, which was attended by the Rt Hon Elin Jones MS, Presiding Officer of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd), served to reaffirm the deep bonds of friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Wales.
In her remarks, the Ambassador expressed her deep gratitude to the organisers, including friends from the Cymru Cuba Solidarity Campaign, the trade union Unite the Union, the Wales One World (WOW) Film Festival, and the producers Resumen Latinoamericano and Alborada Films.
Referring to the documentary, the Ambassador described it as "a mirror" reflecting a fundamental truth: "The Cuban Revolution was, from its very first day, a women’s revolution." She stressed that the struggle could not have been "conceived, fought or won without the leadership, sacrifice and vision of women."
In her speech, she paid tribute to heroines such as Celia Sánchez, Haydée Santamaría and, in particular, Vilma Espín, founder and president of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). She described the FMC, founded in 1960, as "the driving force behind the emancipation of women in Cuba" and the institutional backbone of what is known as "the revolution within the Revolution."
Ambassador Vargas Walter outlined the tangible achievements of this struggle, which have transformed Cuban society.
She also strongly denounced the United States blockade against Cuba, describing it as an "illegal, immoral and inhumane siege" and "an act of economic warfare" that deprives the country of access to food, fuel and vital medicines.
The event in Wales reaffirmed the spirit of resilience of the Cuban people and the importance of international solidarity in their ongoing struggle for sovereignty and social justice.