TODAY IN MISSION YEARBOOK
Mission Yearbook: Affirmation and prayer offered during New York meeting Cuba’s CSW delegation
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.
Darla Carter, Communications Strategist, Interim Unified Agency (Click here to read original PNS Story)
Let us join in prayer for:
Cobbie Palm Global Ecumenical Liaison, Global Ecumenical Partnerships, Interim Unified Agency
Dessa Palm Global Ecumenical Liaison, Global Ecumenical Partnerships, Interim Unified Agency
Let us pray:
When we feed your people, Lord, your Spirit feeds us all. When we clothe them, we wear your good news as a message of hope and love. Bless your servants as we offer ourselves to care for our neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.