On Thursday, February 12, the Consul General of Cuba in Toronto, Víctor Manuel García Sánchez, along with Consul Tania Valenzuela Veiga, gave an online lecture to students at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, regarding sexual and reproductive rights under the new Family Code.
During their presentations, the Consuls addressed the adoption process of the Family Code, the institutions it regulates, the changes this law introduces compared to previous legislation, and the rights it protects, giving special attention to the most vulnerable sectors such as children, adolescents, the elderly, and the disabled.
The lecture also covered the work of CENESEX in Cuba and the protection provided by other institutions and regulatory frameworks regarding the major transformations in Cuban society, which are reflected in the current Family Code.
The session fostered an exchange with professors and university students, who showed a keen interest in learning more about Cuban society.
The occasion was also used to provide an update on the Island's current economic situation. The negative impact of the economic, financial, and commercial blockade unjustly imposed by the U.S. was condemned, as it affects all of society and remains the main obstacle to Cuba's economic development. During the lecture, concrete examples were provided on how the blockade hinders and affects the implementation of social policies.
The Consuls expressed their gratitude for the opportunity and for the students' interest in learning more about Cuba, its society, and the economic difficulties it faces due to the blockade.