Also present at the meeting with Castro Espin, who is also the director of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education of Cuba (CENESEX), were Communal Council President Luca Milani, Councilor Dmitrij Palagi, and the delegate for international relations at the Mayor’s Office of Florence, Cristiano Maggipinto.
The Cuban legislator referred, with specific examples, to the serious impact of the economic, commercial and financial war by the United States against her country, which extends to the communication and cultural sectors and is the main obstacle to Cuba’s development in all spheres.
Among the topics under discussion was a possible visit by a delegation from the Mayor’s Office to Cuba, headed by Nardella, with the participation of the scientific business community of Florence, to appreciate Cuba’s potential and business opportunities in sectors of science and health care, among others.
At the meeting, which was also attended by Marco Fantechi, secretary of the Florence section of the Italy-Cuba National Friendship Association (ANAIC), Castro Espin stressed that despite Washington’s criminal policy, which violates the human rights of an entire people, Cuba continues to make progress.
In this regard, she highlighted recent political-legislative achievements, such as the approval of a new Constitution in 2019, and the Family Code in 2022.
She also spoke about Cuban women’s advances as a result of revolutionary policies, which is evidenced in very important indicators at the statistical level, such as the high presence of women in the National People’s Power Assembly (Parliament), which currently accounts for 53 .0 percent.
This figure, which places Cuba in second place internationally, might increase to 55.0 percent in the next legislature, based on the current candidates for the parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 26 in Cuba.
The CENESEX director also referred to the work of that institution, with communication actions to educate people, in the interest of raising awareness about the respect and full exercise of the rights enshrined in the Constitution, and in the legislative instruments that implement it, such as the newly approved Family Code.
Castro Espin extended an invitation to the Cuban day against homophobia, which will be marked on May 3, as well as to the colloquium on transgender identity and culture, organized by CENESEX in conjunction with the Federico II University, in Naples, and the participation in these forums of Florentine authorities and specialists.
Milani presented the Cuban legislator with the Giglio d’Oro (Golden Lily) medal, a symbol of that city, as a sign of friendship between the peoples of Florence and Cuba.
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