Mariela Castro Espín

Early Childhood Education Teacher, Bachelor's Degree in the specialty of Pedagogy-Psychology from the "Enrique José Varona" Higher Institute of Pedagogical Sciences in the Cuban capital. She is the director of the National Center for Sex Education in Cuba (CENESEX) and of the journal Sexology and Society, in Havana. She is the daughter of the current Cuban president Raúl Castro and Vilma Espín Guillois, who was at one time the president of the Cuban Women's Federation.

Activist for the rights of homosexuals and LGBT rights in Cuba, she has also been a promoter of effective AIDS prevention. She has developed important events of a social nature to promote and disseminate various projects for the protection and respect of sexual minorities on the island.

She is one of the key figures in the policy developed by CENESEX to protect and fully incorporate transgender people into society. She has also expressed support for women's rights to choose abortion when necessary.

Despite not being officially linked to the country's political activity, Mariela has stated in various interviews her total allegiance to the Cuban government, and has also publicly considered that what is most convenient for Cuba is a single party.

Bachelor's Degree in Education. Specialty in Psychology and Pedagogy. M.Sc. in Sexuality. Specialist in Intervention Methodology in Community Corrective Processes. She is an Auxiliary Professor at the Medical University of Havana. General Director of the Journal "Sexology and Society". Head of the Chair of Sexology and Sex Education at the National School of Public Health. Coordinator, professor and member of the Academic Committee of the Master's Program in Sexuality. Professor and member of the Academic Committee of the Master's Program in Community Intervention in Corrective Processes of Daily Life. President of the Scientific Council of CENESEX.

President of SOCUMES (Cuban Multidisciplinary Society for the Study of Sexuality), President of the XVI World Congress of Sexology 2003. Alternate Member of the Executive Committee of FLASSES (Latin American Federation of Societies of Sexology and Sex Education), Ex-officio Member of the Advisory Committee of the World Association of Sexology.

Member of the Technical Advisory Council of the Latin American Reference Center for Pre-school Education (CELEP), Member of GOPELS (Operational Group for the Prevention, Confrontation and Fight Against AIDS), Member of the National Commission of the Comprehensive Health Care Program for Adolescents. Member of the National Commission of the Responsible Motherhood and Fatherhood Program.

AREAS OF COMPETENCE:
Sex education, community intervention, child and adolescent sexuality, human resources development, counseling, promotion of sexual health and prevention of STIs, HIV/AIDS