The member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party, Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People's Power and of the Council of State, sent a letter addressed to deputies and deputies, and to the Cuban population, on the occasion of the next referendum on the Family Code, this September 25.

Here is the full text of his message:

Havana, September 21, 2022

«Year 64 of the Revolution»

Deputies and deputies;

Cubans and Cubans:

Few hours separate us from September 25, the date on which our people will exercise their right to vote on the Family Code, through a popular referendum, in compliance with the constitutional mandate.

To reach this moment, we traveled a long way and collectively built a Code as a country, with the contributions of the Drafting Commission, specialized consultation with academics and other experts and, especially, with the contributions and knowledge of citizens. expressed in the popular consultation, which notably strengthened its content.

Its text was extensively analyzed, debated and also enriched with the criteria of the deputies, at the different moments of the legislative process until its approval in the Ninth Ordinary Period of Sessions, of the IX Legislature, of the National Assembly of People's Power, last July 22.

As explained, the Family Code will enter into force once it has been ratified in the popular referendum, to which it is submitted by constitutional mandate this Sunday, September 25.

This normative provision develops precepts enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, providing more coherence to Family Law. Suffice it to point out that, in its article 42, the Cuban Magna Carta states: «All persons are equal before the law, receive the same protection and treatment from the authorities and enjoy the same rights, freedoms and opportunities, without any discrimination for reasons of sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ethnic origin, skin color, religious belief, disability, national or territorial origin, or any other condition or personal circumstance that implies a distinction harmful to human dignity (...) ».

Correspondingly, the Family Code stands out for its inclusive character; strengthens social justice, the principle of non-discrimination and the humanism of the Cuban Revolution; It does not affect anyone and it does benefit everyone. It has been called the Code of affections, because it takes them as the fundamental axis of family relationships. It seeks to guarantee the protection of those people who may be in a situation of vulnerability, within the family.

As expressed in its expository part, the Code contains in its essence the contributions of Vilma Espín Guillois, who as President of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) consecrated her life to the effort to achieve the greatest justice for all people and make the Marti's high purpose of human improvement to achieve a society without any discrimination.

At the same time, it responds to the international commitments assumed by our country, among them the values ​​and principles contained in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Among its dissimilar strengths, the Code recognizes the rights of everyone, as a cutting-edge standard, not only for the present but also for the future.

Hence the responsibility that corresponds to us as voters and citizens by going to the polls with our families this Sunday, to this civic, democratic and participatory act of the popular referendum, hitherto unprecedented in Cuba for this type of normative provision.

We call on our people to say Yes for the Family Code. Yes for love, affection, peace, inclusion and social justice. Yes for the continuity of our humanist and revolutionary work. Yes for Cuban families!

Fraternally,

Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

President

National Assembly of People's Power.