Presbyterians show solidarity with Cuba’s CSW delegation
Stated Clerk/Executive Director offers affirmation and prayer during New York meeting
NEW YORK — A recent visit to the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations in New York provided insight into the hopes, challenges and resilience of the Cuban people.
Presbyterian delegates in town for the 69th session of the U,N. Commission on the Status of Women were joined by the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency. The meeting was coordinated by the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N. in conjunction with Cuba’s CSW delegation.
Ambassador Yuri A. Gala López, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the U.N., welcomed the Presbyterians, who then heard from a panel that included these members of the delegation from Cuba: Alexis Ginarte Gato, president of the National Union of Jurist of Cuba; Yamila Gonzalez Ferrer, vice president, National Union of Jurist of Cuba; Zonya Rivero Lopez, 2nd secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women; and Noemi Rabasa Fernandez, vice president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with People.
The Cuban delegation shared how their organizations have been working for the advancement of women and families. For example, the Federation of Cuban Women defends the status of women in society, promotes policies for equality and also works with families.
The delegation also noted the progress that Cuban women have made in the professional ranks, with many becoming scientists, and some getting into politics.
“The conversation with the Cuban delegation helped me understand the intersection between global politics and local policies more concretely, illustrating how they work together to either advance or set back women’s rights,” said Adriana Soto Acevedo, a Presbyterian delegate who’s a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, an intern with the Presbytery of Philadelphia and a member of La Iglesia Presbiteriana en Arecibo in Puerto Rico. “For example, since the signing of the Beijing Declaration, Cuba has been a trailblazer in advancing women’s rights by including women in policymaking. The percentage of women members in the Cuban Parliament has increased from 24% to 55.7%.”
Soto Acevedo is part of a Presbyterian-led joint delegation that met with the Cuban delegation as part of the advocacy work that the delegation engages in during CSW, an annual event focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“The U.N. is a convening space for all countries and peoples around the world,” said Sue Rheem, who manages the PMUN office and is the Presbyterian representative to the U.N. “On the occasion of CSW69, we wanted to create an opportunity for dialogue, to engage with one another (between our CSW delegations) and to learn from one another and work together to meet the urgency of this moment.”
She added, “The current situation in Cuba is dire,” with critical shortages of food, medicine, clean water and electricity. Also, “the electrical outages leading to prolonged blackouts are leaving homes, hospitals and schools without power for extended periods and creating dangerous conditions for its people.”
Concerned about such conditions, “the PC(USA) 226th General Assembly called on the church to find ways to respond to the economic crisis that afflicts the people of Cuba and our siblings in the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba,” Rheem added. “We are called to help our Cuban partners during this incredibly difficult time.”
During the recent exchange between the delegations, Oh noted the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s long history of supporting the Cuban people and spoke positively of the future.
“I want to affirm the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s commitment, following our General Assembly policy, to continue partnering with you all and to continue to advocate and work with you,” she said.
Earlier in the event, Gala López expressed a desire to improve relations with the U.S. government and for the removal of an economic blockade by the United States.
“I want to emphasize that we have said many times that we want a respectful relationship between Cuba and the United States,” he said.
As part of its advocacy work, through the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness, the church has long urged the U.S. government to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, a designation that has contributed to economic hardship. Former U.S. President Joe Biden removed the designation shortly before leaving office, but the action was quickly rescinded by the Trump administration, Rheem noted.
“This continued economic restriction makes it difficult to deliver international aid and assist those who are facing unprecedented hardships,” she said. “Presbyterians can sign up for Action Alerts to tell their elected officials to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and send much-needed humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people.”
During a question-and-answer period, concerns were raised about the struggles of some grandparents in Cuba.
Reflecting on the conversation, Young Adult Volunteer Bella Ramos said, “One of the Cuban delegates spoke about how many parents have to leave their children in the care of their grandparents so they can leave the island to find work elsewhere because U.S. policy so strongly limits economic growth opportunities in Cuba. They reminded us that children in Cuba ‘just want to play soccer’ and experience ‘a normal childhood.’”
Gala López said it’s “very challenging for any authority, any organization, women groups, to really address those challenges quickly,” given the economic toll of the embargo.
On behalf of Presbyterians, Oh expressed gratitude for the time spent together and prayed for the people as well as partners, stating in part, “We pray a blessing for the people of Cuba. We pray for their well-being, for peace and wholeness for all of them, for prosperity that they may know abundance in their lives.”
This is the third year that the two delegations have met during CSW, Rheem said, and “it has been a wonderful opportunity to build relationships and hear another side of the Cuban experience.”
Ramos added that the event “created a forum for conversation between two groups that might not typically engage with each other. … The delegates from Cuba were eager to share their experiences and receptive to answer the questions our delegates asked during the Q&A portion. The mission visit reminded me that while our struggles may be different, our fight for justice and advocacy is the same.”
To find additional stories and videos about CSW69 happenings, including a town hall with the U.N. Secretary-General and a silent vigil in support of Palestine, go here.
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