Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez opened the First Meeting of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in Havana, reaffirming the Party and Government's support. The event, running until December 3, aligns with the 15th National Conference on Equal Opportunities organized by Aclifim. Inclusion efforts persist despite the economic blockade.
The meeting is taking place at the Havana Convention Center until December 3, within the framework of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez assured delegates: 'We are here so that you feel, once again, that you have the full support of the Party and Government leadership, because you are an important part of this process of socialist construction'.
The president highlighted the legacy of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, who advocated for an inclusive and just society. Despite the intensified economic, commercial, and financial blockade, Cuba upholds its socialist construction, ensuring equal opportunities and full participation. 'We could not be talking about socialist construction if we did not look at people with disabilities and if we did not also draw on the contribution they are capable of making to our society', Díaz-Canel insisted.
The event promotes unity among associations, seeking consensus to advance inclusion amid current challenges. Mabel Ballesteros López, national president of Aclifim, noted that it is the first time organizations of persons with disabilities have gathered in a common space. 'The associative movement has grown with the Revolution, with its social policy, backed by Fidel's ideas of building a more just and equitable society', she stated. The gathering evaluates progress and critically analyzes areas for improvement to enhance social integration.