Cuban Yamila González Ferrer Elected Member of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

June 26, 2022

Cuban legal expert Yamila González Ferrer, proposed as a candidate to join the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) of the United Nations, was elected this Thursday as part of this international structure with 143 votes out of 187 possible.

According to sources from Cuba's Mission to the UN, this is the election with the highest number of votes among all candidates, which represents recognition of her prestigious work and that of Cuba in the defense of the rights of women and girls.

During the day, results were announced for 23 candidates competing for 12 positions on CEDAW.

González Ferrer holds a Doctorate in Legal Sciences and is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Havana. She also serves as vice president of the National Union of Cuban Jurists and of its Cuban Society of Civil and Family Law, as well as coordinator of the Justice Project. She is a member of the National Committee of the Federation of Cuban Women.

In gratitude for the show of confidence received, the Cuban woman wrote on Facebook:

"I am very moved. It has been the result of the intense work of our diplomacy, of the great team of Cubaminrex, a victory for Cuba, for the Federation of Cuban Women, a recognition of the international prestige of our Homeland and its historic and sustained work for gender equality, for the empowerment and advancement of Cuban women and that fills me with pride and commits me even more."

The Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is the body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The CEDAW Committee is made up of 23 experts in women's rights from around the world, as detailed on their website.

This international structure was conceived as a tool that helps women around the world to bring about changes in their daily lives. In countries that have ratified the treaty, CEDAW has proven invaluable for countering the effects of discrimination, which include violence, poverty and lack of legal protection, along with the denial of inheritance, property rights and access to credit.