Second International Congress on Childhood and Adolescence Begins in Cuba

With a call to "grow the future" from a foundation of protection and social justice, the Second International Congress on Childhood and Adolescence began today in Havana, reaffirming Cuba's commitment to this age group.

A Crucial Forum for Cuba's Youth

At the inauguration, the First Secretary of the Young Communist League (UJC), Meyvis Estévez, welcomed the delegates and underscored the indispensable nature of the forum as "a space that stands as a perfect demonstration of the value that Cuba places on those who know how to love: our children and adolescents."

Estévez insisted that childhood and adolescence constitute foundational stages of human development, "where curiosity has no limits and learning sets the course for an entire existence," but warned that it is not enough to idealize them.

"They are crucial stages for the construction of just, supportive, and equitable societies," she stated.

Bridging the Physical and Digital Realities

She highlighted the role of the Center for Youth Studies and other institutions, student movements, and social organizations in the task of "not falling behind the times, disconnected from the codes and realities of the new generations," especially in a context marked by the intersection of the physical world and the digital universe.

The youth leader also expressed the Cuban people's support for the families in the eastern part of the country affected by Hurricane Melissa and reiterated her condemnation of the extermination perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian population in Gaza.

A Congress Aligned with New Legal Frameworks

The Congress, which will extend until November 20, commemorates the 36th anniversary of Cuba's signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It takes on special relevance following the recent approval of the Code of Families and the Code of Childhood, Adolescence and Youth.

According to Estévez, these legal norms recognize the rights of children "not as a concession, but as an expression of a firm political will, coherent with our history, our Constitution, and our social project."

The event, which will address several thematic areas, is intended as a space for meeting, reflection, and multidisciplinary dialogue to analyze current challenges, share innovative experiences, and promote strategies that ensure the full exercise of the rights of children and adolescents in Cuba and the world.