Seeing as how we are being so openminded...let's go from there...
Virtually all of the Human Rights violations directed at Cuba stem from America...as pointed out by the UN commission on Human rights...so...everything they accuse Castro of doing stems from information that has been obtained from US sources...
Quote:
For that purpose, and bearing in mind that most of the sources of information on the situation of human rights in Cuba are in the United States of America, he travelled to New York and Washington, D.C., from 29 August to 2 September 1994, where he had the opportunity to meet with individuals and representatives of the following organizations and groups: the Cuban Committee for Human Rights, the Committee to Support the Human Rights Movement in Cuba, the Cuban Women's Foundation, Human Rights in Cuba, Cuban Change, the Democratic Confederation of Workers, Freedom House, the Cuban Worker's Trade Union, Americas Watch, Areito Review, the Cuban-American Committee for Peace, the World Federation of Cuban Political Prisoners, the Cuban Committee against the Blockade, the Puerto Rican Group against the Blockade, the American Institute for Free Labor Development, the Foundation for the Defence of Family Values, the InterFaith Foundation for Community Organizations, the House of the Americas and the American Association of Jurists. The Special Rapporteur received written material - in addition to that received from the above-mentioned sources - from such sources as the Information Bureau of the Cuban Human Rights Movement, the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, the Christian Democrat Movement and Amnesty International, as well as many private communications sent to the Special Rapporteur from Cuba and abroad. The situation of human rights in Cuba reflected in this report is therefore based primarily on information from these sources.
Do you see any ' non-political ' organization in that bunch ' without ' an axe to grind????
I'm not saying there hasn't been severe Human Rights violations...but...come on now...there is nothing in this report that couldn't be applied to virtually any other nation...if you were to start digging deep enough.
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&ct=res...I4We-gGNmvnvDQ
url
secondly...
Quote:
Cuba takes prides in having non-discriminatory legislation, and policies and government programs that promote greater equality between women and men. Women also play an important role, even at the international level, in the promotion of the improvement of women's condition by their participation in United Nations' organizations and by organizing regional conferences in their own country (FLACSO).
However, Cuban women bear the brunt of the difficulties and restrictions caused by the economic crisis. Since 1990 the country faces serious economic difficulties due to the loss of foreign relations with socialist countries and with the ex Soviet Union, in addition to the long-standing United States economic embargo. The consequences of the crisis have fallen on the country's women by affecting their family, including a decrease in salaries, a housing crisis, insufficient subsidized day care, reduction of transportation, decreased offer of lasting goods, interruptions of electricity, and an increased complexity of domestic labour (Investigación sobre Desarrollo Humano y Equidad en Cuba 1999, UN).
the economic conditions that exist in Cuba can hardly be attributed solely to Castro...I think the colapse of the Soviet Union and the long standing US trade embargo might have played a substantial role in it...
Quote:
Cuba is an island with a population of 11.2 million people (CIDA). In 2001, there were 100 males for 100 females, based on the estimated population (UN Social Indicators). The projected life expectancy for women is 79 years, whereas it is 75 for men, a difference of 4 years (UN, The World's Women). The birth rate is 13 per 1,000, and the death rate is 7 per 1,000 (Genderstats, World Bank).
population and the natural economics of a small Country may also play a significant role in it's development...
Quote:
The Constitution specifies that the State guarantees that women be offered the same opportunities and possibilities as men. The legislation also does not accept discrimination pertaining to salary, promotions, social benefits, and training opportunities. Women have access to education, science and technology, arts and culture, and employment, which has permitted women to reach financial independence and to fully develop their potentials. Women are overall well represented in many professions. However, stereotypes persist in society.
very well represented in fact...and again Castro can hardly be accused of creating stereotypes...
Quote:
# The standard workweek is 44 hours, with shorter workdays in hazardous occupations, such as mining (US Department of State).
# Women are allowed an 18-week maternity leave with 100% of their wages paid by the Social Security (UN Social Indicators).
# Pregnant working women are protected under law from working in dangerous and strenuous physical conditions
(FLACSO).
# The Constitution gives priority to state or collective needs over individual choices regarding free association or provision of employment. Labour organizations do not act as trade unions, promote worker rights, or protect the right to strike (US Department of State).
# The law prohibits strikes; collective bargaining does not exist (US Department of State).
# The Labour Code states that the Government guarantees equal opportunities for women and men, equal pay for equal work, and it states that women are not to be excluded from promotions to positions of greater responsibility, qualifications and complexity (FLACSO).
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Access to safe water and adequate sanitation is good in both rural and urban areas (UN Social Indicators).
Quote:
The total population, including women, has access to free health care. According to the Government, women have their reproductive and sexual health guranteed (Investigación sobre Desarrollo Humano y Equidad en Cuba 1999, UN).
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind....1?OpenDocument
INC - Gender profile: Cuba (March 2002)
There are many problems in Cuba...many issues that need desperately to be addressed...however to say that all these things are Castro's fault is simply ignoring the facts.
Eg ;)
