COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN CONTINUES TO EXAMINE CUBA'S REPORT
Press Release
WOM/885
COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN CONTINUES TO EXAMINE CUBA'S REPORT
19960122 Cuba must confront the issue of domestic violence, experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women stressed this afternoon as they continued consideration of that country's second and third periodic reports.During discussion of Cuba's implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, experts expressed surprise and disbelief at the inference that violence against women was virtually unknown in Cuba. One expert said she had heard similar reports from former socialist countries in Europe which had turned out to be untrue. Violence against women was a pervasive issue found in every society. The practice had nothing to do with the economic situation of women, although that could be an exacerbating factor, but was rather a pattern of patriarchy. Experts urged the Government to further investigate the matter and present a more detailed picture in its next report.
Experts also expressed concern over the low representation of women in Government, and the persistence of cultural attitudes that hindered women's rights. Many questioned the role of the Federation of Cuban Women, asking how a non-governmental organization could make government policy.
Praise was offered for the level of educational equality reached in Cuba, and one expert sought information on how Cuba had achieved a high level of women in non-traditional educational programmes. Cuba's efforts to have the right to development recognized at the international level were also recognized.
Responding to questions, the General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women, Yolanda Ferrer Gomez, said the Federation had national authority and proposed and argued for women's legislation. She said that domestic violence did exist in Cuba, but the incidence was not the same as in other countries and it did not reflect a cultural tradition. Where the problem existed, the Government was working to address it.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 23 January, to hear the replies of Cyprus to experts' questions on that country's report.
Discussion of Cuban Report
An expert said that the end of rivalry between the super-Powers and the growing disparity between rich and poor nations coincided with increased unemployment and global recession. She shared the sympathy expressed this morning about the conditions of women and children arising from the embargo. Cuba had done a great deal to have the right to development recognized by the United Nations as a fundamental human right. Economic and social development was linked to the advancement of women.
In the next report, she said she would like to see more information about the legal response to violence against women. The idea of a single non- governmental organization for women, such as the Federation of Cuban Women, was outdated. Prostitution was a scourge and was becoming a problem of national priority in Cuba. The women must be helped and the culprits punished. Real political power in Cuba still remained in the hands of men, and women deserved increased levels of participation.
On the implementation of article 2 of the Convention, by which States parties agree to combat discrimination against women in various ways, including the adoption of laws prohibiting discrimination, an expert asked for the number of charges made regarding violations of articles of the Convention or of the human rights of women. She asked how many women went to court or filed complaints, and whether the judges were trained to deal with violations of women's rights.
Regarding article 3, which says that States parties agree to make changes in their laws as necessary to guarantee women their basic rights and freedoms, an expert said she appreciated Cuba's serious efforts, in a time of structural adjustment, to not have such policies be to the detriment of women. She asked for a more detailed statistical account of the various structural adjustment measures and their impact on men and women. She said it was unclear how a non-governmental organization could serve as the national machinery for women's affairs. How were the recommendations of the Federation of Cuban Women implemented by the Government?
Discussing article 5, by which States parties are required to eliminate practices based on the idea of the inferiority or superiority of either sex, and to ensure that family education teaches that men and women share a common role in bringing up children, an expert asked if the Federation of Cuban Women was a policy-making body. Regarding the cultural attitudes of men and women, she questioned if the Ministry of Education had considered school programmes to eradicate stereotyped images in textbooks.
Referring to article 6, which requires States parties to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation or prostitution of women, an expert noted that, under Cuban legislation, women had made great strides. Yet,
Women Anti-Discrimination Committee - 3 - Press Release WOM/885 295th Meeting (PM) 22 January 1996
stereotypes still persisted. More work needed to be done to gather data on violence against women, sharing of work in the home, and use of time by women. Studies could provide ground for legislation and measures to change attitudes. It was her impression that more work was being done to change the attitudes of women than those of men. Perhaps, more thought should be given to changing men's attitudes because a tradition of machismo required change.
She said she was quite surprised to hear that there was no domestic violence in Cuba, and this needed to be investigated along with the question of how to combat it. As to sexual violence against women, in cases of rape, was it possible to bring suit immediately? Was it the responsibility of the victim or could it be automatically prosecuted? Regarding prostitution, she said that the economic and social causes of the problem had to be analysed. It took two to practise prostitution. Yet, there was no analysis of the customers and how they were dealt with. She also asked if there were special programmes to combat AIDS.
Another expert also expressed disbelief that violence against women was virtually unknown in Cuba. She had also heard such information from former socialist countries in Europe. The practice had nothing to do with the economic situation of women, although this could exacerbate it, but was rather a pattern of patriarchy. She urged the Government to further analyse and confront the situation in its next report. Violence against women was a pervasive issue that was found in every society.
Another expert said that some non-governmental organizations had stated that trade union activists had been detained or persecuted. Was this true? She asked for more information on the organization of trade unions in Cuba.
Discussing article 7, by which women shall share on equal terms with men in the political and public life of the country, an expert said she understood that the Federation for Cuban Women was a political organization. How did it become a policy-making body? How was this articulated with the judicial power and how were the needs of women channelled to become decisions of policy within the administration? She also asked how the Federation became an agent in the formulation of policies of social issues, such as health and education. Of the 2,000 non-governmental organizations in Cuba, how many included women, she asked.
Another expert deplored the low representation of women at the political level. She asked if there were seats reserved for women and, if so, how many.
Regarding article 10, which calls for women to be granted equal rights with men in education, an expert noted the achievements of Cuba. She asked if an assessment was being carried out of training programmes. How were school drop-outs being helped? Regarding literacy campaigns, she asked about the content of the programmes because in socialist countries there was a tendency
Women Anti-Discrimination Committee - 4 - Press Release WOM/885 295th Meeting (PM) 22 January 1996
to stress ideology rather than functional literacy. Another expert said she was quite amazed at the high level of women in non-traditional educational programmes. How had Cuba attained such levels? She also asked about the pay in the areas where women and men clustered. This could be a pattern of indirect discrimination whereby once women predominated in a field, the pay went down.
Turning to article 11, which obliges States to eliminate discrimination against women in employment, and to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of marriage or maternity, an expert requested more information on unemployment and if it affected men and women equally. Regarding maternity leave, she asked if there was a possibility to share the leave with fathers. Did women work more part-time jobs than men? Was there a law to provide equal pay for work of equal value? Another expert asked whether the men and women working in new entrepreneurial jobs enjoyed social security benefits. She requested more statistics on unemployment aggregated by gender. She was convinced that there was no direct discrimination, but she questioned whether the Government and the Federation for Cuban Women had a notion of the concept of indirect discrimination, whereby female-dominated occupations had lower salaries.
On article 12, which provides for measures to be taken to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of healthcare, an expert asked if there was an educational campaign advising girls against early birth. She also asked about the role of the mass media in eliminating machismo attitudes. Another expert noted that abortion rates in Cuba fluctuated. She requested additional information on the incidence of abortion, and the presence of educational campaigns to prevent pregnancies.
In discussing implementation of article 14, which takes account of the particular problems of rural women and spells out their rights in the economic and social areas, an expert said she was a bit disturbed that women's labour on private land holding was classified as domestic chores. Was that not discrimination against women owning land, and devaluing their work? She also asked whether women really had access to credit.
On article 16, which spells out the equality of women's rights in matters relating to marriage and family relations, an expert asked if efforts to change cultural attitudes about the role of men and women had resulted in positive change in equalizing relations at the household level.
Response of Cuban Representative
YOLANDA FERRER GOMEZ, General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women, said the Federation had emerged more than 30 years back and it had maintained a representative character, with more than 3.5 million women members. It had begun as grass-roots organization in various corners of the
Women Anti-Discrimination Committee - 5 - Press Release WOM/885 295th Meeting (PM) 22 January 1996
country. It had more than 70,000 offices working at grass-roots level, and its policies were addressed to women workers, peasants and housewives. The organization did not take administrative decisions, but it had national authority. If there was legislation being considered for women, the Federation would analyse it and make proposals. The Federation also proposed and argued for laws. It was all-encompassing and it financed itself with dues contributed by each of the women members. The Cuban Government took into account proposals put forward by it.
Speaking about legislative measures dealing with rape, she said that if force was used or if the victim was permanently or temporarily insane, the penalty for rape was four to 10 years. If the perpetrator pretended to be a public official or if the crime was committed with the aid of two or more persons, the punishment was seven to 15 years. The punishment was eight to 20 years, or the death penalty if the victim was under twelve or suffered grievous bodily injury due to the attack. Charges had to be brought by the victim for the case to be pursued.
Answering questions raised on the issue by the experts, Ms. Ferrer Gomez said nowhere was it said that domestic violence did not exist in Cuba, but its proportions were not the same as in some other countries. Domestic violence did not reflect a tradition in the country, and where the problem existed the Government was working to address it.
* *** *