Blockade vs. education: besieged Cuba stands out in the debate on the present and future of literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean
Chiapas, Mexico, September 9, 2026.- Cuba’s Minister of Education, Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto, participated this Wednesday in the session “Literacy for today and tomorrow in Latin America and the Caribbean,” held as part of the World Conference on “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity,” taking place in Chiapas, Mexico, on September 8 and 9, convened by UNESCO and the Government of Mexico.
During its participation in the global event, the Cuban delegation denounced the reality facing the country in guaranteeing the continuity of its universal and free education system as a result of the brutal economic, commercial, financial and energy blockade imposed by the United States. The tightening of these measures over more than six decades, together with the current energy siege, has aggravated the country’s economic difficulties and directly affects the human, material, economic and financial resources required for the proper functioning of the education system.
Cuba reaffirms its leadership in the global debate on literacy
Chiapas, Mexico, September 8, 2026.— Cuba’s Minister of Education, Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto, spoke on Tuesday at the main panel, “Literacy in the service of people, the planet and prosperity,” as part of the global celebration of International Literacy Day convened by UNESCO.
Cuba’s presence in this international forum is not fortuitous. It reflects the recognition of the country’s accumulated experience in literacy, whose starting point lies in the historic 1961 National Literacy Campaign. That educational epic made it possible for Cuba to declare itself, on December 22 of that year, the first territory free of illiteracy in Latin America. UNESCO itself has recognized the National Literacy Campaign as a landmark event in Cuban education and culture in the 20th century and as a reference for popular education movements in Latin America.
Cuba’s achievements in education are today confronted with the harsh electro-energy reality facing the country, as a consequence of the unprecedented tightening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States against Cuba for more than six decades, and of its effects on access to resources, equipment, technologies and other means essential to the teaching and educational process.
Cuba: Education as a Commitment to the Future
Havana, September 1, 2026. – Cuba has begun the 2026–2027 school year, reaffirming once again the priority the country places on education and on the development of future generations.
The national opening ceremony took place at the Rafael María de Mendive School, an institution closely associated with the memory of José Martí, National Hero of Cuba, and was presided over by the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
Against a backdrop of significant economic and energy-related difficulties, the beginning of the new school year represents a collective effort involving teachers, students, families, communities, and institutions. Preparing the necessary conditions to ensure the continuity of educational activities has required creativity, commitment, and the capacity to respond to current challenges.
Cuba and UNESCO: A History that Began Before 1947
Paris, August 29, 2026.- Cuba today commemorates the 79th anniversary of its accession to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). However, the ties between Cuba and the Organization date back several years before Cuba became a Member State.
Over nearly eight decades, cooperation has extended across the various areas of UNESCO’s mandate. Cuba currently has 9 World Heritage sites, 8 elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 5 inscriptions on the International Memory of the World Register, and 6 Biosphere Reserves. Cuba also maintains active participation in the Organization and is a member of its Executive Board for the 2023–2027 term. Cuba is also associated with two major UNESCO international awards: the UNESCO José Martí International Prize, established in 1994, and the UNESCO Carlos J. Finlay Prize for Microbiology, established in 1977.
Cuban Representative to UNESCO Holds Meeting with Head of the Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section
Paris, August 28, 2026. Cuba’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, held a meeting with Kristof Vandenberghe, Head of UNESCO’s Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, during which they discussed, among other topics, the evaluation process for the nomination of Viñales National Geopark for designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
During the meeting, the Ambassador highlighted Viñales’ geological, natural and cultural values, as well as the commitment and guarantees provided by the Cuban authorities regarding its management and conservation.
The Ambassador noted that these efforts are being undertaken amid the difficult economic and material conditions facing Cuba as a result of the impact of the illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States, as well as the current energy siege and its extraterritorial measures, which severely affect the country’s capacity to advance scientific, environmental and sustainable development projects.