Cuba and the Federation of Cuban Women honours Vilma Espín and her legacy

Vilma Espín Guillois and Fidel Castro during the formation of the Federation of Cuban Women, August 1960

Via Granma and the Communist Party of Cuba, translated from the Spanish

On April 7, dozens of young women were presented with their membership cards for the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). The presentation event took place in front of the monolith containing the ashes of Vilma Espín Guillois, located in the Mausoleum of the Second Frank Pais Eastern Front, as part of the celebrations for the 96th anniversary of her birth. "On a day that I will remember all my life for its great significance, I now belong to the organization that brings together and defends all Cuban women," commented one of the newcomers to the FMC.

A bouquet of flowers from her comrade in both struggle and life, the Leader of the Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, along with a floral tribute from the people of Cuba, were placed at the funeral monument. This was done to melodies played by the eternal President of the FMC, with the reverence appropriate for such a solemn occasion.

"When Vilma died, Fidel told us that her example was more necessary than ever; how right he was, and in circumstances like the current ones, marked by constant threats to our Homeland, we must assume an attitude like hers, who came from the city to the mountains to fight against the Batista dictatorship," said Elena Castillo, general secretary of the FMC in the province, accompanied by the founder of the Guerrilla Front, First Colonel Alberto Vázquez García.

It was precisely in these historic mountains that "the new social relations and the principles of human equality and dignity on which our Revolution is founded, began."

Cuban Women Raise Their Voices: The Blockade Is a Criminal Aggression Against Our Rights

With the steadfastness typical of those born on this island, a group representing the Cuban people assembled at Mariana Grajales Park in the capital to participate in the event Women vs. Blockade. This gathering served as a day of protest and resilience against the economic, financial, and commercial blockade imposed by the U.S. government, which has been intensified in recent months the blocking of fuel supplies.

Present at the event were Salvador Valdés Mesa, Vice President of the Republic; Teresa Amarelle Boué, Secretary General of the FMC; and Marta Ayala Ávila, Director General of the CIGB. Also in attendance were Yudí Mercedes Rodríguez Hernández, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee and head of its Service Services Department; Yuniasky Crespo Baquero, head of the Ideological Department of the Central Committee; Ana María Mari Machado, vice president of the National Assembly and the Council of State; and Inés María Chapman Waugh, Deputy Prime Minister. The birth of Vilma Espín, the eternal President of the Federation, was also commemorated.

In the words of the Secretary General of the FMC: "Vilma showed us that the fight for national sovereignty and women's emancipation is one and the same, and in this struggle, you continually begin anew."

She stated that "for over 60 years, the challenges posed by the blockade have fostered resilience and transformed science into a compassionate effort to save lives." She emphasized the measurable harm caused by this hostile policy and the distress experienced by those who become mothers under such extreme conditions.

"The blockade is not a policy, it is a systematic aggression against our rights and we challenge it every day," he said.

She also noted the growing annexationist tendencies from the United States government and some internal narratives that, she warned, aim to erase history. "We remember that the revolution gave us dignity and transformed our place in society. We will remain anti-imperialist and will never let our sovereignty slip away, because Cuba belongs to us," she affirmed.

The event wrapped up with a heartfelt call to feminist movements around the world, social organizations, governments, and everyday people alike: "We demand an immediate end to this criminal aggression. We do not accept complicit silences or comfortable neutralities. Economic asphyxiation is a violation of human rights and the world knows it."

"As Marianas, we do not accept clemency or setbacks. We understand that freedom is upheld with courage, and we are prepared to defend this collective effort at any cost. On the centenary of our undefeated Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro Ruz, we will continue defending all the justice we have achieved," she said.

Holguin Women Condemn the Unjust U.S. Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade of Cuba

With a touching sweetness that never kept her from meeting the challenges of the underground struggle in the cities, serving in the Rebel Army, and contributing to social and political transformation after the revolutionary triumph of 1959, Vilma Espín still shows us the way forward today.

Today, hundreds of women from different generations in Holguin have reaffirmed this by publicly protesting against the stifling and intensified economic, financial, and commercial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States Government.

Ileana Román García, pregnant with twins, expressed her determination to live despite the hardships caused by the hostility of northern nation politicians. She shared that from the moment she learned of her pregnancy, the Cuban Public Health system welcomed and supported her.

"They didn't ask me for a single penny, they just told me: you and your babies are a priority," she said noting that the Maternal and Child Program, a genuine and beautiful achievement of the Revolution, has provided her with specialized consultations, genetic diagnosis, and pneumonic vaccines to protect her children.

"They have assured me that, despite gasoline shortages in many areas, the delivery rooms will continue to have skilled personnel and Cuban medical expertise, which have resulted in one of the lowest infant mortality rates globally, a success that the blockade aims to destroy."

Mayra Tortosa Vargas, a dedicated Special Education worker, emphasized that as a member of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), as well as a mother and educator, she understands the desire to offer comprehensive care. She also recognizes how restrictions imposed by a hostile power push them to work harder, creating teaching materials and other resources that are deliberately withheld out of spite.

"However, we also understand that we must not stay silent and cannot accept the continued impact of this blockade on children, young people, and the educators responsible for their care."

That is why she demands a future in which every student has access to the necessary tools to learn and develop fully.

The patriotic gathering, attended by Joel Queipo Ruiz, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and the first secretary of the organization in the province, concluded with Elizabeth Martínez Quintero, the General Secretary of the FMC in the province. Her speech served as a rallying cry for all social and women's organizations, governments, and individuals who believe in justice to unequivocally denounce the immoral blockade imposed by the United States.

She stated that the dedication of the Cuban women's organization is neither rhetorical nor circumstantial; it is deep-seated and rooted in dignity and history.

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