Cuba and Laos discuss women's role in society

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 14 (ACN) Ana María Mari Machado, vice president of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament) met in this city with Inlavanh Keobounphanh, president of the Lao Women's Union, to discuss the fundamental role of women in society and other topics of common interest, such as women's empowerment and their presence in government positions.

Ms. Keobounphanh, who is in Cuba at the invitation of the Federation of Cuban Women, thanked her host for the opportunity to talk with Cuban authorities and stressed the importance of women's presence in political spheres to raise and find solutions to social problems. She also remarked that the National Assembly of Laos intends to increase the number of its female members—currently at 30 %—with the help of the Laotian party and government.

On her end, Mari Machado pointed out that 53.2 % of the Cuban parliamentarians are women, one of whose priorities is to support the Program for Female Advancement, and referred to their role in Cuban social, political and economic life since the triumph of the Revolution and their key role in the fight against COVID-19.