What works in Cuba

Cuba has pursued significant legal and social reforms, including a 2022 Family Code that made shared domestic responsibility a legal duty, banned discrimination based on sex and gender identity, and passed a national referendum with 66.85% support on 74% turnout. The country has also invested in digital inclusion through over 600 free computer-training centres nationwide that have enrolled 4.55+ million people in literacy courses, though this occurs within a state-controlled internet environment. On environmental grounds, national forest cover rose from roughly 14% in 1959 to 31.2% by 2020, though the programme has faced significant setbacks since 2020, with hectares planted declining by approximately 35% and fire pressure rising. Across all three areas, the evidence documents policy ambition and stated achievements, though independent verification of implementation outcomes remains limited.