Cuba Honors Heroine Vilma Espín on the 18th Anniversary of Her Passing

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel paid tribute today to revolutionary heroine Vilma Espín on the 18th anniversary of her passing, highlighting her enduring legacy in the struggle for gender equality and social justice.

"We still feel her among us. #Vilma remains an inspiration and a challenge for Cuban women of all ages and professions. Strong and tender, combative and innovative, she continues to lead the way in women’s fight for justice," Díaz-Canel wrote on social media platform X.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero also honored Espín’s memory, recalling her role as a strategist in the underground resistance, her courage as a guerrilla fighter, and her devotion as a wife, mother, and founder of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), where she championed equality.

Roberto Morales, Secretary of Organization of the Communist Party of Cuba, commemorated her with a pledge to continue advancing women's progress and defending the Revolution to which she dedicated her life.

A prominent member of the 26th of July Movement, Vilma Espín played a key role in the armed resistance in the Sierra Maestra. Following the 1959 triumph of the Cuban Revolution, she devoted herself to the emancipation and empowerment of Cuban women, becoming a central figure in shaping their contributions to national development.

Espín passed away on June 18, 2007. Her remains rest at the Mausoleum of the Frank País Second Eastern Front in Santiago de Cuba, the province where she was born.