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| Cuban children are happy |
Response
to article Canadians are major customers in Cuba’s child sex market, published
in The Toronto Star on Sat Mar 16, 2013
In 1959
prostitution was rampant in Cuba, especially in areas of big cities, but was
also present in small towns: it was a means of survival then. One of the first
tasks undertaken by the Revolution after its triumph was to rescue all those
women, by educating and providing them with jobs, so they could have a
dignified life in the future.
It is my
belief that Cuba is aware of the problems that tourism may bring into the
country, and consequent with its principles, has implemented harsh laws to
tackle drug trafficking, child prostitution and prostitution itself; and
imposes severe punishments on those individuals who engage in these kinds of
acts, whether locals or foreigners.
It is a
gross infamy to say that Cuba ignores or turns a blind eye to a matter where
children are harmed. According to
government sources “child prostitution is a minor problem and (the) Government has accorded it significant attention”. It
is monstrous to make the Cuban government appear as an accomplice in child
corruption, and it is unprofessional to manipulate and distort facts to present
readers with the dishonest generalization that child prostitution is growing
without check in Cuba. That is a complete fallacy.
There’s
possibly no other country in the world that has devoted more resources and effort to protect children as much as Cuba. According to the United Nations,
Cuba is the only country in Latin America that has eradicated malnutrition in
children, and has an infant mortality rate of 4.6, which is lower than that of some
developed countries, including those where the article was written. Cuba
provides schools, vaccination and all basic needs to its children; and that is
a well known fact all over the world.
Those
countries that allow its sexual predators to travel to third world areas to prey
on its most vulnerable sector, their children, bear responsibility for those
crimes. They should share information about these individuals. It is clear that
when it comes to the protection of children more cooperation is needed between the
governments of countries where that tourism is originated and the receiving
end.
Despite the longest economic and financial blockade ever imposed in history on a
country, Cuba, by a mighty power, the United States of America, and the
continued and mounting hostility of the latter trying to suffocate its economy;
the Cuban Revolution has struggled to provide its citizens with quality and
sustainable education and comprehensive free health care. Cuba has the second
highest life expectancy in Latin America and has elevated the dignity of its
people by creating an environment of respect and solidarity among themselves
and others. And these are facts, not manipulations.
Julio Fonseca
President, Association of Cubans in Toronto
“Juan Gualberto Gómez
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