May 11, 2008

The Bolivarian Revolution has dignified the condition of the Venezuelan women as it approves the 1999 Constitution acknowledging their importance in the country’s development.

As the Bolivarian Government begins its 9th year, the Minister of Popular Power for Women, María León, mentions the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution in the defense and protection of the country’s mothers.

In this sense, León thinks that the Venezuelan women’s conditions were dignified in the 1999 Constitution since it acknowledges their importance in the country’s development.

“It acknowledges that women take on their sons’ and daughters’ affective, economic and cultural responsibilities. Today, the Venezuelan women are a forefront in the world,” he said.

Social security for Venezuelan mothers

The Ministry of Popular Power for Women was created in order to defend the women’s right and guarantee them a reliable social security. As citizens, the Venezuelan State must guarantee them the minimum conditions of subsistence such as health, education, housing and pensions, which are some of the tasks undertaken by the Revolutionary Government.

In order to achieve this goal, the Venezuelan government has been working hard to eradicate a hue social exclusion through social missions such as Robinson, Ribas, Sucre, Che Guevara and Barrio Adentro, among others.

In this context, nursery schools and kindergartens known as Simoncitos, Bolivarian schools and high-schools were built to guarantee that children could socialize until they grow up.

Since it started, the Bolivarian government has changed the conception of mother, whom was just attributed responsibilities, whose personal and spiritual self-improvement was not taken into account, and whose 24-hour housework was described as an “unproductive” activity.

“Mothers did not receive any acknowledgement for a work that produces wealth and social welfare,” stressed León.

“All this is social security because citizens can access these services for free. Regarding pensions, we have had some delays; formerly the government did not entitled worthy pensions, not even to housewives, to whom we entitled the first pensions last year. We have had delays because it is a progressive process,” she said.

However, “since the Revolution started, pensions have been increased were standardized according to Venezuela’s minimum wage (US $ 372). The Revolution’s heart wants people to receive benefits now and not later. That’s the reason why its ministers work every day, day and night, in order to successfully move forward.

Madres del Barrio: “Protection for them who protect us all”

One of the most ambitious programs - regarding their reach in favor of the protections to mothers - is Mission Madres del Barrio (Mothers of the Barrio), aimed at safeguarding those women living in extreme poverty and in situation of exclusion.

This mission was created to reach those women, and assure them that “the government will take care of them for a limited time so that they can become independent from that protection.”

“Extreme poverty is a very terrible situation which does not only involve economic needs. It is a situation of desperation that cripples and takes away self-esteem from people. In these circumstances, our women can end up living in extreme poverty, committing suicide, alcoholic or addicted to drugs,” said the Venezuelan minister of women,” said the Venezuelan official.

“Meeting Points”: Grassroots Organization to Defend Women

León highlighted the importance of the “Meeting Points” as the biggest contribution of the National Women Institute’s (Inamujer, Spanish acronym) to the Bolivarian Revolution.” These meeting points have evolved into grassroots organizations in charge of defending the women’s rights.

“Thanks to them we have rescued the historical memory and implemented a network to prevent violence. Likewise, they have boosted economic projects to fight poverty,” said León.

The Venezuelan minister informed that every institution comprising the Ministry for Women will have a representation in the communities. “The Bank of Women (Banmujer, Spanish acronym) has its network, Mission Madres del Barrio has its Committees of Mothers and Inamujer has the “Meeting Points,” which will support Mission José Gregorio Hernández and April 13. Who is better than them to offer their solidarity?

Solidarity with the 5 Cuban heroes

Finally, León expressed her solidarity - on behalf of the Bolivarian Government - to the mothers, sisters, daughters and wives of the five Cuban heroes illegally imprisoned in different U.S. jails.

She said that the Venezuelan Planning Minister, Haiman El Troudi, and his wife, expressed their will to collect signatures and messages to urge the U.S. government to stop injustice because it does not allow these heroes to have a closer relation with their relatives. I wish we can touch the U.S. authorities’ hearts so that he mothers of these five heroes can visit their sons.”

A Mothers Miracle

For a mother, a son’s sickness becomes an open wound. Notwithstanding, the Venezuelan mothers today agree that thanks to Mission Miracle this wound has started closing.

Carmen Alicia Ríos (51) comes from Aragua state, Venezuela’s north center region. She tirelessly fought so that her son could undergo an eye operation. After spending years searching for a solution, Mission Miracle restored her hope.

Ríos is the mother of 13-year-old Jorge Rafael Carpintero, who underwent a cornea-transplant operation about 15 days ago. “I’m very happy since my son will not have to face darkness anymore. Two months prior to his operation, he could not attend school because his yes were closed,” she told.

This brave Venezuelan woman fought for this cornea-transplant. She adds that this operation would not have been possible without the intervention of the Venezuelan government because private hospitals are too expensive and she didn’t have the money to pay for that.

Model of Self-improvement

Blana Oviedo, a graduate of Mission Sucre who got a Social Management Technical Expert in the Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UBV, Spanish acronym), embodies an outstanding proof of self-improvement.

Oviedo is the mother of three adolescents and a pastrycook whose cakes have become very famous in her community, Ruiz Pineda neighborhood, Caracas’ southwest. She told us how she joined the Venezuelan Higher Education System after being excluded for seven years, a situation experienced by most of Venezuelan high school graduates.

”I registered in Mission Sucre when I watched it on TV. I thought it was a very good initiative because it represented a great opportunity for the people who couldn’t continue studying for different reasons. When I graduated from high school in 1984 I couldn’t access university, no matter how many times I tried. I joined Mission Sucre on the last registration day. Soon after that I got a surprised: I was called and told that my name was on the list of Mission Sucre. I was very happy. I admit I was afraid because I had spent a long time without studying, but my husband encouraged me to go ahead,” she told.

Oviedo graduated in April, 2008, during a ceremony headed by President Hugo Chávez. “He handed my diploma over to me in the Military Academy (Caracas’ southwest). I got one of the highest grades of my promotion. Before starting to study, I used to feel that something was missing in my life because all the cousins in my family went to the university. I pictured myself as the black sheep of my family because I felt bad for not entering university though I took different courses. My goal was to graduate and work for the communities.”

Defending Achievements

On the occasion of the Mothers’ Day, Minister María Leon invited these sometimes anonymous heroines to “make their children aware of defending our Revolution, because if we defend Venezuela, which is an inspiration for Latin America and the world, we’ll be safeguarding the planet. Protecting this Revolution is making it possible that the depredatory capitalism can not continue destroying natural resources, polluting food, rivers, lakes, oceans and seas. As mothers, we need to teach them the need of overcoming this inhuman economic system. That’s the reason why we have to help our President in this huge task.”

Ministry of Popular Power for Communication and Information

By: Carlos Ibarra and Mayra Lily Cerró

http://www2.minci.gob.ve/noticiaingles.asp?num=1583