CUBA1

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CUBA - A BRIEF HISTORY & OVERVIEW (2)

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FULGENCIO BATISTA & FIDEL CASTRO

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THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

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COLLAPSE OF THE U.S.S.R.,

EFFECTS ON CUBA

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THE PROGRESSIVE ROOTS OF CUBA

PERHAPS CATALYZED BY SOCIALISM?

CUBA STANDS OUT AMONG NEIGHBORING

LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS AS PROGRESSIVE

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EVEN THE PRE-REVOLUTIONARY

CONSTITUTION, CALLING FOR EQUAL

TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE

AND CALLING AN END TO DISCRIMINATORY

PRACTICES AGAINST WOMEN IN GENERAL.

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CURRENT CUBAN CONSTITUTION (3)

Article 32 guarantees that women and men enjoy the same economic, political, cultural, social and family rights.

Article 41 says that all citizens have equal rights and are subjected to equal duties.

Article 42 forbids discrimination based on sex, and discrimination in any other form in general.

Article 43 gives all citizens equal access to provisions made in society in the realms of education, work, housing, transport and public utilities.

Article 44 stipulates women's right to equality in the home and at work, and in health provisions and state benefits.

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LA FEDERECION DE MUJERES CUBANA

Cuba's current progressive status, specifically in the field of women's rights can be attributed

to La Federacion de la Mujer Cubana— or The Federation of Cubam women.

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LA FEDERECION DE MUJERES CUBANA

THE FMC WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1960s.

85% OF CUBAN WOMEN OVER THE AGE

OF 14 ARE CURRENTLY MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NEARLY 70,000

BRANCHES IN CUBA.

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STATISTICS ON CURRENT LIFE (1)

65%

35%

FEMALE MALE

CUBAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

57%43%

FEMALE MALE

CUBAN PARLIAMENT

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TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE...

82%

18%

FEMALE MALE

UNITED STATES PARLIAMENT

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ADDITIONAL STATISTICS

38%

62%

FEMALE MALE

LAWYERS

50% 50%

FEMALE MALE

JUDGES

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ADDITIONAL STATISTICS (cont.)

34%

66%

FEMALE MALE

PROFESSIONALS & TECHNICIANS

80%

20%

FEMALE MALE

MILITARY OFFICERS

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IN CONCLUSION...

WHILE THERE ARE BUREAUCRATIC FLAWS, AND THE SITUATION LOOKS BETTER ON PAPER

AND CUBA HAS A WAYS TO GO TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY ON ALL FRONTS, THEIR EFFORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURE IS A STARK CONTRAST TO MUCH OF THE REST OF THE REGION, IN MANY

CASES CONSIDERING THE UNITED STATES.

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DATA SOURCES

1) "Women in Parliaments: World Classification." *Parliamentary Democracy - Inter-Parliamentary

Union (IPU)*. Web. 2 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/arc/classif310111.htm>.

2) "Cuba." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 2 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba>.

3) "Cuba." U.S. Department of State. Web. 2 Apr. 2011. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2886.htm>.

4) Cruz-Taura, Graciella. REHABILITATING EDUCATION IN CUBA: ASSESSMENT OF

CONDITIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. 2003. University of Miami.