Candelaria Rodrguez

Candelaria Rodríguez Hernández (1925–2023) was a Cuban lawyer and activist known for her work in labor rights, women's suffrage, and fostering international solidarity, particularly with North Korea. Born into a working-class family, she joined the Communist Party in 1946 and became involved in union organizing and human rights advocacy.

Rodríguez gained national attention in the late 1950s for her leadership in the "Hands Off Korea" campaign, opposing Cuban involvement in the Korean War. Her activism led to arrest and imprisonment but ultimately shifted public opinion against entering the war. She was also a key figure in Cuban women's rights movements, serving on the executive committees of organizations like the Women's Federation of Cuba and WIDF (Women's International Democratic Federation).

After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Rodríguez held influential positions, including legal advisor at the Ministry of Labor and member of the National Council of Lawyers. She visited North Korea multiple times, including a 1993-1994 trip with Fidel Castro, and wrote *Korea Revisited after 40 Years* detailing her experiences.

In 1998, she was honored as an honorary member of the Cuban Society of Constitutional and Administrative Law. Rodríguez passed away in 2023, remembered for her contributions to Cuban-Korean relations and her lifelong commitment to justice and international solidarity.