On May 3 and 4, the 1st Meeting of the Unitary Federation of Transportation, Ports, Fishing and Communication of America "FUTAC Women, challenges in the 21st century" will be held at the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba Nacional (CTC).

A representation of women from the Cuban Communications system, led by the Minister of Communications, Mayra Arevich Marín, participated in the event.

Grisel Reyes León, Vice Minister of Communications, during her speech explained the actions developed by our country in the implementation of the Program for the Advancement of Women. She explained the areas of attention such as: economic empowerment of women, presence of gender issues in institutional communication; education, prevention and social work; access to decision making; legislation and law.

The Vice Minister of Communications highlighted the regulatory framework and systems for protection against all forms of discrimination. Issues related to sexual and reproductive health; as well as statistics and research. Also on the incorporation of indicators that allow gender analysis in the access, use and time of interaction with ICTs.

In the exchange with the participants of the "FUTAC Women" Meeting, Grisel Reyes León also discussed how the Ministry of Communications implements the Program for the Advancement of Women and the functioning of the Gender Committee. She explained that 45.1% of the total number of workers in the Communications system are women. Of these, 20.8% are directly involved in the fundamental activity. Of the total number of managers, 44. 5% are women. 4.5% are female senior managers.

Among the work projections of the Communications system, the Vice-Minister enunciated: to maintain and increase the representation of women in the total human resources; to maintain and increase the percentage of women in decision-making positions; to increase in the institutional profiles of the system contents related to the PAM and the work developed by women in the sector; to disseminate and promote the vocation for related careers, to stimulate the participation of girls and young women in the contests held at the different levels of education; to promote the participation of girls in the "Citizen Innovation Laboratories" (Co-Lab) project and to promote the participation of women in Science, Technology and Innovation projects.

The 1st Meeting "Women FUTAC, challenges in the 21st century" was chaired by: Ricardo Maldonado Olivares, General Secretary of the Unitary Federation of Transport, Ports, Fishing and Communication in America - FUTAC; Erlin Rondón, Vice President Women - FUTAC and General Secretary of the National Union of SNTCIE of Cuba; Fermín Umpierre Iraola, General Secretary of the National Union of Transport and Port Workers of Cuba; Ernesto Freire, Head of the World Federation of Trade Unions Office, Americas Office; Mayra Arevich Marín, Member of the Central Committee of the PCC and Minister of Communications and Grisel Reyes León, Vice-Minister of Communications.

The meeting was attended by women from unions in several countries, including Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.

The experiences shared today were fruitful. The participants exchanged and discussed timely and common issues.