Canberra, June 22, 2026. The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Australia, on behalf of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), awarded the ICAP 65th Anniversary Medal in posthumous tribute to María Hilario, a distinguished friend of Cuba and a staunch advocate of solidarity with our country.
María Hilario was a tireless activist and a staunch defender of the Cuban cause. For ten years, she co-organized monthly vigils in Sydney against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States, mobilizing solidarity groups and keeping alive the public denunciation of the effects of this policy on the Cuban people. Her vision of solidarity with Cuba was part of a broader commitment to social and anti-imperialist struggles. Her ethical and political consistency led her to maintain firm positions in defense of oppressed peoples, earning her the respect of numerous organizations and activists in Australia.
The awarding of the medal recognizes María Hilario's human and political legacy, as well as expresses gratitude to her family for their support and companionship throughout her life. The distinction was received by her son, Declan Gannon Hilario, along with an official letter from ICAP expressing the Cuban people's gratitude for his mother's life of solidarity.
The Embassy of Cuba in Australia reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the bonds of friendship between the two peoples and expresses its deepest gratitude to María Hilario for her dedication, courage, and love for Cuba.