Cuban govt initiates procedure to get public opinion on new family code

To collect the public viewpoint on the new family code, the Cuban government on Tuesday established a three-month procedure, gathering the people’s opinion on legalizing gay marriage in the country. This legislation will also assist the government in tackling gender-based violence and prohibiting child marriages. 

This is certainly a good initiative taken by the Cuban government, which has impressed people. President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, in his recent statement, cited, “It is a code that takes into account the rights that all types of families in the country should have. And so it is an inclusive code, a modern code, a humanist code“.   

On the other hand, the foreign minister of the Caribbean island, Bruno Rodriguez, highlighting the benefits of this initiative, noted it would enhance and update the current regulations on marriage, divorce, marital property relations, adoption and other family-related regulations. 

“It aims to delineate a more inclusive, just and dignified vision for our families,” he added.  

Where on the one end, this government initiative is gathering praises; there are several people who are criticizing and standing against it. The Catholic Church has rejected the laws which make same-sex marriage and adopting a child legal in the country.     

Around 78,000 meeting points have been set up for gathering public opinion on the matter, as per the Cubadebate official web portal. Meanwhile, 900,000 persons, including – jurists, law students and other specialists, will be seen driving the debate and later process the information.  

On 7 September 2021, the Cuban government declared that a new Family Code would be brought to the National Assembly for getting approval and then be put to popular vote. 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender – (LGBT) people in Cuba may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. In recent years, attitudes and acceptance towards LGBT community people have changed to be more tolerant, as individuals are trying to accept the people.