Constitutions with the Soul of a Woman> Cuba> Granma



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Although in the vote of the first Constitution Mambisa the woman was not present, the voice of Ana Betancourt was raised to claim the rights of Cuban women. Photo: Archive

Cuban women have been, throughout history, a revolutionary paradigm. His contribution to the creation of the country's history was also reflected in the Cuban constitutions, that of Guáimaro in 1868.

Although the wish of the first constitution of Mambisa is not present, the voice of Ana Betancourt was raised to claim their rights, and this is said in her speech:
"The Cuban woman, in the dark and quiet corner of the house, patiently and resignedly awaits this sublime time when a revolution just breaks his yoke, loosens his wings (…).

When the time comes to free the woman, the Cuban who has overthrown the slavery of the cradle and the slavery of color, will also consecrate his soul generous to the conquest of the rights of what is today in the war, his sister of charity … "

This distinguished patriot asked the Cuban legislators that as soon as the laws were promulgated, women would benefit the same rights as other citizens

Ana Betancourt is the reference The historical presence of the female presence in the constitutions of the Gambia, but was not the only one who advocated, since then, for greater participation of women.

Years later, the Pinar del Río Magdalena Peñarredonda would also defend women's rights before General Wood. Aurelia Castillo was an example of a fight for the mulatto and the black woman. In his demands, he also advocated that the rights to university studies be sufficient.

In the words of writer Aurelia Castillo, "women should read, but read serious books like men did.This can take a lot of work in the beginning, but little by little, they will be able to badimilate and understand its content. "

For the 1901 Constitution, one of the topics discussed was the right to vote for women. In the book In Search of a Space: A History of Women in Cuba, from the historian and researcher Julio César González Pagés, the author discusses the consequences that this right would have on the world. time for Cuba

. The motion for women's suffrage was disapproved by nine votes for and 17 against, to be settled in Article 38 the following: "All Cuban men, over 21, have the right to vote."

Cuban women had to wait until 1936 to exercise their right to vote for the first time, as part of the approval of universal suffrage in 1934.

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In the book Raíces Cubanas, by Raúl Eduardo Chao, the list of all the participants in the creation of the 1940 Constitution, approved on July 5 of the same year.

It includes only three women out of the 76 delegates: Esperanza Sánchez Mastrapa, for the Communist Revolutionary Union; while Maria Esther Villoch and Alicia Hernández de la Barca, participated in the Partido Revolucionario Cubano (Authentic).

This Constitution, approved in the House Chamber of the National Capitol, was in force only for 12 years, since it was repealed with the coup of Fulgencio Bastita on 10 March 1952.

However, this letter has set important milestones in its articles that have marked some differences for women, accomplished with the discussions of these three Cubans in parliament.

These included the maternity protection provided for in section 68, as well as equal terms and conditions of employment, with a minimum wage depending on the needs of the worker, under the same conditions.

Women's Rights in the Basic Law of the Republic of 1940 thus meant a break from the androcentristo expressed in the 1901 Constitution, writes González Pagés

"The 1940 Constitution would not change in the practice of the inferiority of women, who continued to receive lower wages than men, however, this allowed Cuban women to have a series of recognitions, unknown in other regions of Latin America. "

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The triumph of the Revolution in 1959 marked a start in the constitutional rights of women and their participation as active members in decision-making in the country.

In 1975, the Family Code and other laws were pbaded in Cuba. That same year, the first congress of the Communist Party of Cuba was held, during which, among other theses, the question of the full exercise of women's equality was debated. to determine a large number of important tasks. the life and promotion of Cuban women.

"On February 15, 1976, the men and women of the city, over the age of 16, went to the polls to exercise their free and secret ballot. 96% of the population of age to elect approved the Constitution, "says the journalist Pedro García, in an article published in Granma.

The participation of women at this time of prior popular consultation, and suffrage by The following was an important step in women's rights and their active participation in the creation of the magnanimous letters of the country.

Vilma Espín pointed out that when the Socialist Constitution was promulgated in 1976 in a popular referendum, his fundamental postulates had radically changed the legal status, with an edifying reinforcement of the principles of equality and human dignity.

"To work, organize and put into activity the creative spirit, the enthusiasm of the Cuban woman, so that the Cuban woman, in this revolutionary step to disappear until the last vestige of the discrimination; and a, the Cuban woman, for his virtues and for his merits, the place that corresponds to him in the history of the country, "said Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro at the ceremony of creation of the Federation of Cuban Women in 1960. [19659005] At present, the Cuban Parliament is composed of 322 deputies out of a total of 605, and out of the ten permanent labor commissions, four are presided over by women, while there are 16 vice-presidents It is also the second Parliament of the world with the largest presence of women in its composition.

On this occasion, 13 women participate in the preparation of the draft Constitution of the Republic which, according to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, "Will take into account the principles of humanistic and social justice that shape our political system."

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