Data taken from Cuba's National Bureau of Statistics and Information, published in July, shows that the island's children and youth aged 18 or younger account for approximately 23.5 percent of its total population. Of these, almost 1.27 million are female and 1.35 million are male. More than 85 percent of them receive some type of education.
"It is true that education and healthcare are free, but at what price?" questions Yen Lourdes Mesa, who is an active member of her local community and has several years of experience developing workshops for children's charities. It's a controversial topic, she insists. "Cuba is depicted as a paradise for children, but in reality it is not." In part, this is because parents cannot choose the kind of education they want for their children, but is instead government imposed.
Yen states that minors in Cuba are exposed to an "inadequate social environment and [are] surrounded by vices."
Yen states that minors in Cuba are exposed to an "inadequate social environment and [are] surrounded by vices."
Yen questions the normalcy with which Cubans view children who are taken to the Field Schools: "I think children do free and forced labor virtually without condition. The rights of children are lost amidst the unclear limits of this country," she complains.
Dora Mesa, member of the Latin American Federation of Rural Women and director of the Cuban Association for the Development of Early Childhood Education, offers that "since Cuban parents are unaware of their rights, they are also unaware of their duties." There are many indicators of psychological violence manifested primarily through bullying or expressions like "Shut your mouth!."
"Even though some articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child are promoted on radio and televsion," most parents Mesa notes are, "absolutely uninformed."
"If a father speaks of his child's rights," says Mesa,"it means that you can be exposed to reprisals in schools, by teachers and the existent legal systems" on the island.
"If a father speaks of his child's rights," says Mesa,"it means that you can be exposed to reprisals in schools, by teachers and the existent legal systems" on the island.
She offers the example of the many regulations in schools, such as the one a local high school posted on the Internet. In the section devoted to the duties of parents or guardians of students, the first paragraph instructs:
[You] pledge that your child will give and have respect for national symbols and will salute the flag during civic events. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN SANCTIONS.
The director of the NGO describes the cases of the children of Jehovah's Witnesses, who because of their religious beliefs are discriminated against and are not granted the "comprehensiveness" required by the Cuban educational system.
Cuba publishes its "school rules" online. Chapter II, Article 3 of the document specifically states that secondary school education must be "characterized by the patriotic and revolutionary content of its activities."
Mesa points out that the Committee on the Rights of the Child has asked Cuba to amend Articles 53 and 62 of their Constitution "because they limit freedom of information and expression of Cuban children."
Article 53 of the Cuban constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but only if it is subject to "the goals of a socialist society." Article 62 states that "None of the freedoms which are recognized for citizens can be exercised contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and the law, or against the existence and objectives of the socialist state, or contrary to the decision of the Cuban people to build socialism and communism." Any violation of this principle will be punished, the document continues.
"Human rights are not political," affirms Mesa. Political right is part of human rights, but it is not the most important one."
Mesa, who has experience with about fifteen children's rights violation cases, advises parents not to be afraid and to present their complaints to independent organizations such as the Cuban Law Association and CUBALET located in Havana.
Cases where she has intervened were "sent directly to UNICEF" and although the UN agency "has never given a straight answer," it is known that "they ask the government for accountability."
