OCLAE celebrates the 28th anniversary of its founding

Cuba today remembers the 28th anniversary of the creation in Havana of the Continental Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Students (OCLAE), which has since become a platform for articulation of the student body in America.

Registered as a Non-Governmental Organization, Oclae was born here in 1996 in the context of the celebration of the IV Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Students (CLAE), made up of 35 organizations from 23 countries that bring together approximately 100 million students throughout the Latin American Continent.

Since then, the organization has remained a platform for articulation of the Latin American student movement in the fight for the rights of young people and students.

In accordance with its principles, OCLAE deploys its efforts to fight for the eradication of illiteracy, the affordability of education, student welfare and equality with greater coverage of education.

It also defends university autonomy, freedom and the plurality of the academy and free public education, while promoting the student struggle against multiple scourges of humanity.

Planetary evils such as fascism, imperialism, colonialism, hunger, social injustice and any conduct or manifestation that harms human dignity are in the sights of the OCLAE, its programmatic lines maintain.

The youth organization has, since 1997, the Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC); it is a member of the Latin American Youth Forum, is part of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), the International Union of Students (IUS) and the International Council of the World Social Forum (WSF).

With permanent headquarters in Havana since its foundation, OCLAE is aware of the actions of student and youth organizations in the area of ​​Human Rights due to its constant exchange with Cuban students and youth.

According to its leadership, Cuba encourages the performance of the organization, due to the national fulfillment of the Millennium Goal “Education for All,” which is reinforced by realities such as more than 1 million university graduates in a country of about 10 million inhabitants.