BASIC
COUNTRY INFORMATION
Population:�11 million
Ethnicities: 60% Spanish descent, 22% mulatto, 11% African
descent, 1%� Chinese
Religion: 47 % Catholic, 4 % Protestant, 2 % Afro-American
Spiritist
GDP, 1998 estimate: US$17.3 billion
GDP, real growth rate, 1998 estimate:� 1.2 %
GDP per capita:�US$1,560
Major industries: sugar, minerals, tobacco, agricultural, medicine
& tourism
Infant mortality rate, 1999:�6.4 per 1,000 live births�����������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������
Literacy,� 1999������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������� Total: 95.7%
����������� Male: 96.2%�
����������� Female:�95.3%
Life expectancy at birth, 1992:�������������������������������������������������������������
����������� Total:��75.5 years
�����������Female:�76 years ���������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������
Safe Drinking Water , population with access, 1999:����
����������� Total:�92 %
����������� Urban:�98 %
����������� Rural:�75 %
Sources:�
The World Bank Group,
[1] Lonely Planet [2] , World Factbook 1999 [3] , PAHO [4] , and Oficina Nacional de Estad�sticas,
Havana, Cuba (December 1999)
Political
and Socioeconomic Overview
Cuba
is a Communist Republic and Fidel Castro Ruz has been
the head of state since the 1959 revolution that overthrew
the corrupt rule of Fulgencio Batista.� Following the
revolution, Castro began reforming the nation�s economy,
cutting rents and electricity rates, and nationalizing
landholdings larger than 400 hectares.� The government
forged closer ties with the Soviet Union and for years
the government benefited from huge amounts of Soviet aid
worth US$4-6 billion per year. [5]
Since
the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, Cuba has lost
the economic subsidies from the Soviet Union and has undergone
a profound economic crisis that has affected all spheres
of life. Between 1989 and 1993, Cuba�s GDP fell 35 percent
and exports declined by 75 percent. [6] Since
1993, laws have been passed to allow Cubans to own and
use US dollars.� The government allowed� self-employment
in some 100 trades and opened farmers� markets.� Although
the Cuban Constitution was amended and all references
to Marxism-Leninism removed in December 1991, Castro has
repeatedly stressed his commitment to Communism. [7]
US-Cuba
relations
Following
the 1959 revolution, US Cuba relations were directly affected
by the nationalization of US-owned petroleum, telephone
and electricity companies, as well as sugar mills.�� At
first, the US cut sugar imports and the CIA trained and
armed a counter-revolutionary army to overthrow Castro.�
The attempt to do so in the April 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion
failed.� Since 1962, the US has attempted to damage the
Cuban government by enforcing a trade embargo.� The 1962
US economic embargo was strengthened in 1992 with the
passage of the Cuban Democracy Act (Torricelli Amendment),
and in 1996 with the implementation of the Helms-Burton
Act.� The Helms-Burton Act allows US investors to take
legal action against foreign companies utilizing their
confiscated property in Cuba, and advising against loans
for Cuba. [8]
In
January 1999, however, US President Bill Clinton announced
his decision to expands people-to-people contacts and
encourage educational, cultural, humanitarian, religious,
journalistic and athletic exchanges between the US and
Cuba, without �strengthening the regime.�� The policy
built on the visit of the Pope John Paul II to Cuba, which
took place one year earlier. [9] �
Freedom
of Expression and Human Rights
The
Cuban government has come under criticism for its human
rights record over the last thirty years because of restrictions
of free expression, association, assembly, movement, and
the press. [10] � There
are as many as 500 prisoners of conscience in Cuba, jailed
for criticizing the country�s leadership or for attempting
to organize political opposition.� These restrictions
on the freedom of speech, however, must be understood
in the context of the ongoing US effort to destabilize
the regime and the acute economic crisis. Pope John Paul
II acknowledged this during his visit to Cuba in January
1998, criticizing both the Cuban government�s limits on
political and civil freedoms and the embargo imposed by
the US. [11]
The
Media
The
first independent media outlets appeared in Cuba in 1995.�
They have functioned on the margins of Cuban society and
the Castro government has attempted to impede their work.�
The government has used Article 72 of the penal code,
which states that �any person shall be deemed dangerous
if he or she has shown a proclivity to commit crimes demonstrated
by conduct that is in manifest contradiction with the
norms of socialist morality� to silence the journalists
who oppose the government and attempt to voice their opinions.��
It carries a penalty of up to four years in prison.� According
to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, independent
journalists have been harassed by detention and interrogation,
beatings, telephone conversations monitoring and service
cut-off, threats and �� in some cases �imprisonment. [12] �� In 1999, several journalists were
in prison for �disrespect� toward president Castro and
�dangerousness.� [13] �� In February 1999, the Cuban Parliament
passed the Law for the Protection of Cuba�s National Independence
and Economy (Law 88) establishing prison terms of up to
20 years for anyone who �supports, facilitates, or collaborates
with the objectives of the Helms-Burton law, the embargo,
and the economic war against our people.� [14] � The law can be used against journalists
who pass information to the foreign media or disseminate
�subversive� materials.� Foreign� reporters are exempt
from the laws� provisions.�
This
report was written by Kasia Polanska, IWRAW Research Director.�
It is based on a fact-finding trip to Cuba in February
2000.�� She met with directorate and several members of
the Federation of Cuban Women (Federaci�n de Mujeres Cubanas,
FMC), and with several other women�s groups, including
women in the arts and journalism , as well as academics.
The report� prepared by the UN Special Rapporteur
on Violence Against Women, Radhika Coomaraswamy, following
her visit to Cuba in June 1999 is cited extensively.�
Background information was obtained from published books
and articles.� Rita M. Pereira of the FMC provided invaluable
assistance with setting up some of the meetings and interviews
with women�s organizations.� We are grateful for her help.
STATUS
OF WOMEN IN CUBA UNDER SPECIFIC CEDAW ARTICLES:
CONVENTION
ARTICLES 1 AND 2
DEFINITION
OF DISCRIMINATION AND
MEASURES
TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION
In
1992, the Cuban Constitution was amended to include a
special chapter on equality, which prohibits discrimination
based on sex (article 42).� Article 44 states that� a
woman and a man enjoy equally rights in the economic,
political, cultural, social life and in the family.� Articles
41-44 of the Cuban Constitution grant women equal economic,
political, cultural, social and familial rights with men
and prohibit discrimination based on race, skin color,
sex, national origin, religious belief and other forms
of discrimination.� Additionally, Article 295 of the Penal
code [Ley No. 62 (1979)] provides for sexual equality. [15]
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 3
BASIC
RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
The
UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women reported
that women whose political views are not in line with
official views find themselves in an especially vulnerable
position as a result of the government�s refusal to allow
independent political and civil expression.� According
to the Special Rapporteur report, many women have been
arbitrarily detained for political or journalistic activism. [16]
Women
in Prisons
In
1999, Human Rights Watch reported severe conditions in
Cuban prisons, including malnourishment and overcrowding
in cells, lack of appropriate medical care, and sexual
abuse. [17] � The UN Special Rapporteur
visited only one women prison and was not permitted to
interview prisoners privately, and, consequently, could
not confirm these reports.� According to the Special Rapporteur
report, the prison she visited had a medical facility
and nursing staff available to the women 24-hours a day.�
The prisoners were required to work eight hours a day. [18] ���
The
Special Rapporteur spoke with two young female prisoners
from the United Kingdom who had been held for seven months
without trial on charges of drug possession. [19]
MAGIN
In
1994, 170 Cuban women working in communications formed
an informal group called MAGIN.� The group discussed the
underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in
the media, stereotypical and often negative images of
women � especially on TV and in the advertising� �� and
the absence of coverage of women in leadership positions,
among other issues. [20] ��� All the women were
members of the Communist Party and they were prominent
in their professions.� When the group tried to register
as a non-governmental organization,� the registration
was rejected making it impossible for the organization
to continue its work.� One source who requested anonymity
told IWRAW that members of MAGIN were asked to withdraw
their application for registration.� According to the
source, MAGIN members have been harassed only indirectly,
for instance, by being passed up as candidates to attend
conferences.� Nevertheless, there also have been reports
that some former members have been imprisoned.��
Women�s
Organizations
FMC
is the main women�s organization in Cuba and more than
80 percent of all women belong to this organization. FMC
works closely with government authorities, including the
ministries of labor, education and health. [21] � FMC is responsible for coordinating
the national structure for the Beijing Platform for Action
implementation and of the Cuban National Plan of Action
for Beijing.� Recently, with the cooperation of UNICEF,
FMC has organized scores of campaigns and programs at
the provincial level aimed at raising awareness about
family violence, including numerous short �telenovelas�
and TV and radio commercials.� FMC also receives complaints
from victims of violence. [22]
� Over the years, FMC has also undertaken studies
at its Centro de Estudios de la Mujer (Center for
Women�s Studies)� and has made recommendations to the
authorities on issues ranging from �women in decision
making� to �women and nutrition.� [23]
Of
2,200 legally registered organizations in Cuba, 60 are
specifically associations of women. [24] � Neither
the Special Rapporteur nor IWRAW have been able to meet
with any non-governmental groups, that would be openly
critical of the government�s policies and practices concerning
women.� Although some of IWRAW�s sources have admitted
problems in some areas, they almost without exception
blamed the situation on the economic embargo.� They maintained
that the government has responded to the situation of
women to the best of its ability, and its task was made
difficult by� the economic situation.
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 5
SEX
ROLES AND STEREOTYPING
It
has been reported that machismo is alive and well
in Cuba and that� women still have the main responsibility
for domestic work and child care. [25] �� Despite increased rates of women
entering the workforce and despite the importance they
play in public life, they are also portrayed as having
the main responsibility for the �reproduction of the labor
force.� [26] �� Several sources told
IWRAW that these demands to play multiple roles may hinder
their professional development.� For instance, women often
do not aspire to managerial positions in their professions
as they realize that holding decision making positions
means additional responsibility and burden.� A document
prepared in 1999 as an evaluation of the International
Beijing Conference of Women Plan of Action, states that
the government has made efforts to make the household
work easier for women, but the document does not specify
what those steps have been. [27]
According
to several sources, the textbooks in Cuba are still not
free of stereotypes regarding different societal gender
roles and there is not a concerted effort to implement
educational programs to eliminate gender stereotypes.�
IWRAW�s sources have stated that at this time it is impossible
to reprint all the school books because of shortage of
paper and funds.
Media
According
to reports, gender stereotyping and sexism exists in the
media despite the fact that many media professionals are
women. [28]
� Black women are underrepresented in TV and,
according to a report by FMC, black women are sometimes
portrayed in a caricatured way. [29] � It is unknown if there
have been any attempts to fight these stereotypes.
CONVENTION
ARTICLE� 6
PROSTITUTION
AND TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN
The
governmental emphasis on the tourist industry development
combined with the economic crisis and lack of access to
jobs has led to the re-emergence of prostitution in Cuba.
Cuba has become a magnet for sex tourists and pedophiles,
and the tourists have been responsible for the revival
of the Havana brothels and child prostitution. [30]
According
to the Article� 302 of the Penal Code (Ley No. 62) prostitution
in itself is not a crime, but acts related to prostitution
� such as the exploitation of prostitution of others �
are punishable by imprisonment from 4 to 10 years. [31]
�� So far, the Cuban government has not taken
decisive steps to eliminate this problem (as has been
done in Thailand and the Philippines, other traditional
problem areas).� Governments in those countries have taken
a harder line especially on minor sex abuse, including
lengthy prison terms for the clients and procurers. [32]
The
government�s report to CEDAW states that �a study of Cuba�s
legislation produced solid arguments for including procurement
and trafficking in women in the Criminal Code� [33] but
the government has not indicated any specific commitment
to any legislative change in this regard.� Even though
the Penal Code permits prostitution, the Cuban government
has focused on punishing prostitutes.� Women who are found
practicing prostitution are sometimes taken back to their
provinces and banned from leaving them for a period of
time. [34]
� The government has established �rehabilitation
centers for behavior modification� for prostitutes who
are detained repeatedly for prostitution, where they stay
for up to four years.� According to the Special Rapporteur
who visited such centers, women receive psychological
and educational training and are required to work, mostly
in agriculture. The Special Rapporteur reported that imprisonment
and forced labor in agriculture, as well as the restriction
of visiting time, violate the rights of those women to
due process of law. [35]
CONVENTION
ARTICLES 7 AND 8
POLITICAL
AND PUBLIC LIFE
Sources
told IWRAW that one of the problems that hinders greater
progress of women in Cuban society is their underrepresentation
at the highest levels of power.�� Although the law provides
for the election of women and minorities to the National
Assembly, both groups are underrepresented in the government
and politics.� Women make up 27.6 percent in the Parliament.�
However, only 16.1 percent of seats in the Consejo
de Estado (Council of the State) are filled by women,
and there are only 3 women ministers (9.3 percent).�
Women
in the Arts and Culture
According
to Lizette Vila, the president of the Union of Writers
and Artists of Cuba (La Uni�n de Escritores y Artistas
de Cuba , UNEAC), women do not get as much visibility
as men in the arts.� Although she blamed the situation
on the historical discrimination of women, she stated
that one of the problems in Cuba is the low number of
women in decision making position in the arts. [36] � According to Vila, access for women
to decision making in the Public Health and Education
field, for instance,� has resulted in greater visibility
and participation of women in those fields, and she hoped
the same could be true about the arts. [37]
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 10
EDUCATION
13.6
percent of the national budget is dedicated to education.�
Girls and women have equal access to education, and of
university graduates, 58 percent are women.�� Out of the
graduates in scientific and technical fields, 40 percent
are women. [38]
�� In some university disciplines, such as
medicine, quota for men have been considered as a result
of the dominance of women. [39]
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 11
EMPLOYMENT
Labor
laws are cast in terms of protecting the nation�s baby
makers.� Although women have been encouraged to join the
�productive� work force outside the home, they still have
the primary responsibility for housework, child-rearing
and family care.� As a result of the rise of a market
economy in Cuba, the FMC warned in 1995 that social benefits
obtained by working women could put them at a disadvantage
when looking for a job in companies aiming for efficiency
and profitability. [40] � According
to FMC, the majority of the unemployed are young women. [41]
Currently,�
more than 40 percent of all women work outside the home.�
In 1996, women� constituted 65 percent of the professional
and technical labor force, 54 percent of the services
sector, [42] � and more than 40 percent of scientific
researchers.� Women dominate the judiciary as 70 percent
of judicial professionals and 60.2 percent of judges are
women. [43] �� However, according
to various reports, the increasing lack of professional
employment, low salaries in state jobs,� and the government�s
emphasis on the development of the tourist industry has
forced even educated women into low-level service jobs.�
Women leave their jobs as doctors, engineers and other
professionals to work in the tourist industry.� Women�s
jobs typically have lower status and lower pay than men�s
jobs.
Additionally,
as a result of the economic crisis, there also has been
a trend toward a reduction in the economic activity,�
especially among young women.� According to press reports,
some studies indicate that women abandon their jobs and
choose to return to the traditional role of housewife,
as they have difficulty juggling motherhood and other
family responsibilities.� In order to deal with this situation,
FMC recommended a few years ago that the Employment Commission
be reactivated. [44] � According to the Special Rapporteur
on Violence report, this has in fact been done. [45]
Salaries
Basic
government salaries range from US$7-8 per month. In occupations
where women predominate, such as physicians and teachers,
the monthly salary is US$20. In 1999, the government increased
salaries of some state workers, including teachers and
doctors, by 30 percent. [46]
� However,� despite generous subsidies for
food, housing and medical care, there is little left to
spend on other necessities, such as clothes.�� This becomes
especially apparent, as there is a clear divide between
Cubans who have access to US currency and those who do
not. [47] � It is unknown if the government has
taken steps to remedy this situation and equalize the
situation of the people who do not have access to hard
currency.
Child
care
Several
sources told IWRAW that the demand for child care is 25
percent higher than the availability of c�rculo infantil.
(kindergarten).� It is unknown whether the government
has done anything to address this shortage.
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 12
HEALTH
CARE AND FAMILY PLANNING
Healthcare
receives 11.7 percent of the national budget. [48]
� and 98 percent of the population is covered
by the state system, which emphasizes access and prevention.�
Consequently, Cuba has first-world figures for average
life expectancy (75 years), infant mortality and other
indicators. [49] �� Maternal and child health is an
area of top priority for the Cuban government and women
have guaranteed and easy access to healthcare.� All necessary
diagnostic testing and drugs are provided free of charge
to pregnant women and to persons receiving outpatient
care. [50] ��
In fact, Cuba has one of the lowest infant mortality rate
in the world (among the top 10 countries), with 6.4 death
per 1000 births. [51]
HIV/AIDS
Since
the first AIDS case was reported in 1985, the Cuban government
has devised a comprehensive system to address the problem
of HIV/AIDS by conducting studies of the groups at highest
risk, carrying out epidemiological investigation of all
cases, performing analyses of hospital admission records,
and implementing a comprehensive program of health education
for the general population. [52] �� The system provides for a stay in
a sanatorium (from 3-6 months), which is not required
but is encouraged.� The stay includes physical and psychological
testing and treatment. [53] � The
system has kept the rate of infection very low compared
to other countries, and now Cuba has one of the lowest
rates of infection, with only one of every 1,500 persons
testing HIV-positive (compared to the US rate of 1 of
every 550). [54]
��
Cuba
tests all pregnant women for HIV and uses Cesarean sections
for HIV-positive mothers, which reduces the risk of infection
during labor to 1 percent. [55] � Although, it is true that women have
been affected by HIV/AIDS to a lesser degree, the situation
may have changed and requires constant monitoring.�� For
instance, as the prostitution rate has risen, it is unknown
how this has affected incidence of HIV/AIDS.� The government
does not provide information on whether there are HIV
testing or AIDS prevention programs targeting specifically
prostitutes, and what has been done to assure treatment
of AIDS patients given the shortage of medication in general.
STDs
Reports
of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly of syphilis
and gonorrhea, are on the increase. [56] �� It is unknown what
has been done to avert this trend.
Abortion
Although
the rate of induced abortion dropped from 70 per 100 deliveries
in 1992 to 59.4� per 100 deliveries in 1996, it remains
high as women resort to it as a form of contraception. [57] �� The government does not provide
information whether it has made efforts to reduce the
high abortion rate and whether any programs and campaigns
have been implemented.� The contraceptives use is estimated
at 79 percent, but it has been reported that contraceptives
are in short supply and pharmacies often run out of them.��
In addition, the available contraceptive are of very low
quality.� For instance, the widely used IUDs have led
to the spread of pelvic inflammatory disease and STDs.
Teenage
Pregnancy
According
to reports, the province of Las Tunas and the municipalities
of Puerto Padre and Majibacoa have high incidence of teenage
pregnancy,� STDs and low contraceptive use. [58]
Sex
Education
J.
Iliana Artiles de Le�n of the Centro Nacional de Educaci�n
Sexual (National Center of Sex Education, CENESEX)
told IWRAW that the Center works to reduce the high rates
of� teenage pregnancy and� abortions.� In addition to
shortages of contraceptives, a serious problem is also
the refusal by youth and men to use condoms.� CENESEX
runs sex education programs in 70 percent of the secondary
schools.� Because of the shortage of teaching materials
resulting from limited economic means, they are not available
in all schools, most notably in the easternmost provinces. [59] According to Artiles, the Cuban Catholic
Church for its part encourages �responsible sexuality.� [60]
Nutritional
Problems
Iron
deficiency anemia affects more than 40 percent of women
in the third trimester of pregnancy, about 50 percent
of infants between 6 and 11 months of age, and between
25 and 30 percent of women of childbearing age. [61] � In 1995, more than 18 percent of
pregnant women were malnourished.� It is unknown what
has been done to ensure prenatal medicine and sufficient
vitamin intake to prevent anemia.
Diabetes
Death
from diabetes has risen steadily from 9.9 (per 1,000 live
births) in 1970 to 23.4 in 1996 and a larger proportion
of deaths occur among women than among men. [62]
Asthma
More
women than men die from asthma, and the disproportion
of female mortality has become more marked in the past
several years.� In 1996, the death rate among men was
4.4 (per 100,000) and among women it was 6.1. [63] � It is unknown what
the government has done to reinforce prevention and treatment
programs to reverse this trend.
Suicide
According
to a report obtained by the Special Rapporteur at a hospital
of Villa Clara, figures for suicides indicated that over
75 percent of cases in 1998 were women.� The Special Rapporteur
suggested that the government undertake a broader study
to determine if it is true for other areas of the country
and what were the reasons for such a situation. [64]
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 13
ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
The
economic embargo put additional demands on women to find
creative ways to make ends meet and to cope with shortages
of supplies, including food, medicine, female hygiene
products and soap.� This may have had psychological consequences
for women who carry the burden of additional household
work.
The
restructuring of the economy undertaken in the early 1990s
affected between 500,000 to 700,000 people.� Currently,
approximately half of all Cuban households have access
to dollars. [65] � These families are in a considerably
better situation than families without such possibilities.�
It is unknown if the government has designed a plan to
assist families who do not have access to foreign currency.
Housing
Shortage
The
capital, Havana, has a serious housing shortage and overpopulated
living conditions have led to an increase in intra-familial
tension and violence.� Sometimes, up to three generations
live in one or two room apartments. [66] � IWRAW
met with women in Havana who have been forced to live
with their ex-husbands many years after divorce as a result
of serious housing shortage.� One of the sources resided
in the former family home�s garage for eight years. [67]
CONVENTION
ARTICLE 16
MARRIAGE
AND FAMILY LAW
The
Family Code (Ley No. 1289 (1975) guarantees equal rights
to women and men in marriage and divorce, and equal parental
rights. [68]
GENERAL
RECOMMENDATION #19
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
Domestic
Violence
The
majority of cases of violence against women that come
before the courts are domestic violence cases. Domestic
and intrafamilial violence, however, is not defined as
a crime and there is no mention of it in the Civil, Family
or Penal Codes, or in the Constitution. [69]
The
UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, reported
that the officials with whom she met in 1999 were of the
opinion that violence against women was not a problem
because the existing statistics for reported cases were
fairly low. [70] ��� Apparently, there is no effort
to gather statistics on the issue.� There is also a perception
that there is no need for new legislation. The Special
Rapporteur recommended implementing programs for sensitizing
the judiciary, the police, the prosecutors and social
workers to be able to identify cases of violence and to
deal with the victims. [71] � As
part of Cuba�s National Plan of Action, developed after
the International Beijing Conference on Women, the training
of judges in the area of violence was made a priority
issue. In 1999, FMC was also in the process of developing
programs to include gender into police training.� It is
unknown if any programs have been implemented.
As
of 1999, there were no shelters for abused women in the
whole country. [72] � According to authorities, they are
unnecessary since in the rare cases when abuse occurs,
women� usually stay with their friends or family.
On
the other hand, FMC has been attuned to the problem of
violence and has initiated research regarding the problem,
as well as concrete programs of community intervention. [73] � Victims
of violence have contacted FMC for help.
Rape
Articles
298 and 300 of the Penal Code (Ley No. 62 (1979) provide
penalties for rape and sexual abuse, and the law is also
applied in the case of marital rape. Article 298 (3) provides
for the death penalty for rape with abuse � a penalty
which was condemned by the Special Rapporteur on Violence
Against Women. [74] � The sentence for rape without physical
abuse ranges from four to ten years.� But because the
officials do not recognize the need for statistics on
rape, the Special Rapporteur was informed that the cases
of rape do not occur to a �statistically significant degree.� [75]
Sexual
Harassment
Article
301 of the Penal Code (Ley No. 62) sanctions perpetrators
of sexual harassment.� According to the Special Rapporteur
report, there is a perception among trade unionists and
leaders in commerce, culture and communications that sexual
harassment in the workplace does not exist.� On the other
hand, the Special Rapporteur received testimonies about
sexual harassment against women working in subordinate
positions by men in professional positions, such as university
teachers, factory managers, and government employees.�
There have also been reports of sexual abuse and harassment
against women working in the agricultural sectors, especially
in the fields. [76] � The Special Rapporteur
recommended information campaigns about sexual harassment
and devising remedies for victims, particularly in educational
institutions and workplaces. [77]
PREVIOUS
REVIEW BY CEDAW:
Concluding
Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women: Cuba. 09/05/96 (Combined second and third
periodic report).
Suggestions
and Recommendations:
�
Undertake
studies to determine the extent and impact of violence
against women, in particular domestic violence, even if
unreported, and to take steps in accordance with general
recommendation 19.
�
Revive
programs to combat sexist prejudices and stereotyping,
such as "Mujeres," "Muchachas" and
"Perfil F."
�
Do
everything possible to meet the demand for contraceptives;
strengthen special information programs relating to sexually
transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.
�
Make
every effort to further check the re-emergence of prostitution,
to offer more and better job opportunities to women who
engaged in prostitution, and not to place the sole responsibility
for prostitution on the women themselves; adopt stronger
measures to prosecute procurers and clients.
�
Conduct
an empirical study to determine whether women were paid
the same wages as men for work of equal value and to document
occupational segregation and its relationship to income.
�
Give
more information in the next periodic report on women
in the labor market and their income situation; give more
information on the situation of women in trade unions
in subsequent reports.
�
Expand
the participation of women at the highest levels of political
power; continue efforts to ensure that women have an effective
voice in decisions that affect their lives.
ACTIONS
BY OTHER UN HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
PERTAINING
TO WOMEN�S HUMAN RIGHTS:
Concluding
observations of the Committee on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination : Cuba. 10/02/99. (Tenth,
eleventh and twelfth periodic reports).
No
recommendations concerning women were issued by this Committee.
Concluding
observations of the Committee against Torture: Cuba. 21/11/97.�
(Initial report).
No
recommendations concerning women were issued by this Committee.
Concluding
observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child:
Cuba. 18/06/97. (Initial report).
Suggestions
and recommendations:
�
Devote�
further resources and assistance to activities in the
area of family planning and health education programs,
with a view to addressing the problem of teenage or unwanted
pregnancies and changing male sexual behavior; give special
attention to� issues relating to the incidence and treatment
of children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and
STDs, and to reducing the apparent recourse to abortion
as a method of family planning; undertake major efforts
to broaden the coverage of reproductive health educational
programs beyond married couples.
�
Review,
as a matter of urgency, the minimum legal age of sexual
consent with a view to raising it.
�
Undertake
measures to address matters relating to the sexual exploitation
of children, particularly through tourism, taking into
account the recommendations adopted at the World Congress
against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
held in Stockholm; Criminal Code should provide for the
protection of children up to the age of 18 from sexual
exploitation.
