On June 18, Cubans remember Vilma Espín, the tireless revolutionary fighter and defender of women's rights, 17 years after her physical disappearance.
This exemplary Cuban woman was born on April 7, 1930 in the province of Santiago de Cuba, in the bosom of a family of high economic position, and defended dignity, emancipation, justice and equality throughout her life.
From a young age, she assumed revolutionary political positions, and actively participated in student demonstrations after the coup d'état of March 10, 1952 by dictator Fulgencio Batista. She joined the Rebel Army in the Sierra Maestra and even when her life was in danger on several occasions, she always remained on the first front of combat.
After the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, she served as the main leader of political and state actions to materialize the full access of Cuban women to their rights.
Vilma Espín is remembered as the eternal president of the Federation of Cuban Women, created in 1960 with the objective of promoting policies and programs aimed at achieving the full exercise of equality for women in all areas and levels of society.
She also joined the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba since its founding in 1965, was a deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power since its first legislature and member of the Council of State. As a result of an illness that worsened, Vilma died on June 18, 2007 in Havana and her remains rest in the Mausoleum of the Second Eastern Front Frank País in Santiago de Cuba.
Following her death, the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, said: "Vilma's example is more necessary today than ever. She dedicated her entire life to fighting for women when in Cuba the majority of them were discriminated against as human beings just as in the rest of the world, with honorable revolutionary exceptions."
That is why Vilma Espín Guillois, a woman of action and thought, of firmness and unwavering loyalty, lives and will always live with her example in the memory of her people who do not forget her.
