Articles about Cuba

This month, the Caribbean has sent a powerful message to the world: the fight for dignity, equality, and self-determination is gaining unstoppable momentum. Across the region, landmark victories are reaffirming the Caribbean’s trajectory toward a future grounded in rights, justice, and inclusion  In Saint Lucia, the High Court struck down colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy, marking a historic leap forward for human rights. For too long, these discriminatory statutes, remnants of British colonization, have legitimized stigma, violence, and exclusion of LGBTQ+ people. With this ruling, Saint Lucia joins a growing list of Caribbean nations affirming that love is not a crime, and that laws must protect, not persecute.  At its heart, this decision reflects the courage of Caribbean societies to confront inequality and move toward laws that uphold the dignity and privacy of all citizens.  Meanwhile, in Cuba, the recent approval of a progressive Gender Identity Law allows adults to change their gender marker on identity documents without the need for medical procedures. It is a long-awaited step towards legal recognition and protection of transgender people’s rights. And, importantly, it is the result of an inclusive, participatory process. One that involved activists, civil society, and public institutions working together to shape the law.  This is how rights are won: through collaboration, consultation, and the deep belief that law must reflect lived realities. By recognizing the right to self-determination, Cuba is sending a message that equality is not theoretical—it must be lived, and it must be legal.  At IPPF, we celebrate these milestones not only for their immediate impact but for what they symbolize: a Caribbean that is reclaiming its future, one grounded in justice, equality, and compassion. These advances are not isolated, they are interconnected victories that emerge when societies make space for dialogue, center the voices of those most impacted, and invest in systems that support rather than punish.  The road ahead is long. Many countries in the region still maintain harmful laws, and resistance to change remains entrenched. But this month’s news gives us hope. It shows us what is possible when communities come together to demand more: more rights, more dignity, more humanity. 

Haz click aquí para leer el Resumen de noticias de mayo en español. Brazil | Gestos celebrates 31 years of advocating for SRHR   Gestos, IPPF Collaborative Partner in Brazil, celebrated their 31st anniversary with dance, music and much love from their community. Since their founding, they have advocated to link social, cultural, economic and environmental issues to inclusive and effective public policies on sexual and reproductive health and rights.  For 31 years, Gestos has effectively contributed to guaranteeing the human rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. Around 70 per cent of the people who have sought legal support from the institution have had their rights repaired, through injunctions and judgements. Gestos' advocacy efforts effectively reach multilateral bodies dedicated to monitoring HIV, gender, sexual rights and public development policies and, since 2001, the organisation has been monitoring United Nations resolutions on these agendas.  Congratulations, parceiras!       Bolivia | Colectivo Rebeldía celebrates diverse 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ families for IDAHOBIT  To commemorate the International Day Against LGBTIphobia, Colectivo Rebeldía,  Collaborative Partner in Bolivia, joined the Sexual Diversity Movement of Santa Cruz to celebrate love and diversity on May 17th. They brought the community together to celebrate all forms of love and all forms of families. The cold weather was no obstacle to this warm and welcoming gathering where they shared moments of reflection, art and connection.  You can learn more about this joint project with their most recent (and creative!) post.      Cuba | Cenesex fights LGBTQI-Phobia with gala, march and community-oriented events  IPPF Collaborative Partner in Cuba, Cenesex, went all out for IDAHOBIT celebrations with the Cuban Days Against Homophobia and Transphobia during the month of May. They took the streets to the rhythm of the Cuban Conga against Homophobia and Transphobia, waving the trans and transinclusive pride flag across San José de las Lajas. They also celebrated the graduation of 30 transgender people as Sexual Health and Rights promoters in prisons. Their community work is incredible!      Dominica | Dominica Planned Parenthood Association champions gender equality at SIDS4  From May 27-30 the Dominican Planned Parenthood Association participated in the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States. This year, Antigua & Barbuda was host to leaders from the 39 independent States and 18 Associate Members of United Nations regional commissions and other world leaders, officials, and experts from the private sector, academia and civil society. DPPA participated in the Gender Equality Forum as part of the SIDS4, bringing forward the importance of addressing gender-based violence.      Haïti | The Association of Midwifes of Haiti highlights the important role of midwives at the forefront of crisis.   To celebrate the International Day of the Midwife, on May 6th the Association des Sages-Femmes d’Haïti (ASFH) organized the webinar “Midwives in Haïti: Agents of Solution in the Socio-political Crisis”, of particular importance in the country’s current context. Key stakeholders came together to discuss best practices, challenges and solutions to strengthen maternal and child health in the country. It was a relevant virtual platform for reflection, exchange of ideas and collective action.      Perú | INPPARES and IPPF ACRO express concern regarding the latest Health Ministry’s decree that violates LGBTQI+ rights.  The IPPF Americas and Caribbean Regional Office joined INPPARES, IPPF Member Association in Peru, in expressing its rejection of the Supreme Decree Nº 009-2024-SA issued on May 10th by the Peruvian Ministry of Health which, by updating the Essential Health Insurance Plan (PEAS) based on the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), violates the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people.  This decision of the Peruvian government to use ICD-10 is very serious, as it violates binding codes and agreements at local, regional and international level. You can read our joint statement here.     If you want to receive SRHR news directly from the ground to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter Rising the Tide: Subscribe