The event is part of the 15th Day of Equal Opportunities, organized by the Cuban Association of People with Physical-Motor Disabilities (Aclifim), and includes the participation of all national organizations representing people with disabilities in the country, according to the Office of the President.

During the opening ceremony, Mabel Ballesteros, the national president of Aclifim, explained that the purpose of the meeting is to share experiences and collectively build learning spaces, based on the main agreements reached at each organization’s congress, as well as to identify and address the gaps that still exist in achieving full social inclusion.

The Cuban president highlighted the significance of the event as an expression of patriotism and solidarity, and praised the participants’ decision to dedicate the day to the centennial of the Revolution’s historic leader, Fidel Castro.

Diaz-Canel emphasized that it is a forum to evaluate and discuss the progress made in equalizing opportunities, a principle that has allowed Cuban society to move forward justice and inclusion, even amidst the severe limitations imposed by the tightening of the U.S. blockade.

The president stressed that the meeting is being held with a focus on unity, in which the associations work together to build consensus on the next steps, with a critical and realistic approach to current conditions, and as an opportunity to examine and improve their work on behalf of people with disabilities.

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