The tragic murder of María Emilia Savigne Borjas, a 38-year-old mother of three from Santiago de Cuba, by her ex-partner has raised the number of confirmed femicides in Cuba to 19 for 2024. Independent feminist platforms verified the incident, which occurred in public on the morning of May 23, initially reported by communicator Yosmany Mayeta on social media.
Gender observatories YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and Alas Tensas expressed their sorrow over the crime and extended condolences to Savigne's three children, other family members, and friends. According to Mayeta, Savigne was stabbed by her ex-partner, Yoel Menéndez Rivera, while she was waiting for transportation to her workplace, accompanied by one of her children and her current partner.
Savigne survived the initial attack thanks to the intervention of several bystanders and was admitted to Joaquín Castillo Duany Military Hospital, where she underwent surgery. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries the following day.
Savigne, who had a child with the attacker, had already filed a police report, allegedly due to previous threats from Menéndez. "However, the authorities did nothing about it," stated Mayeta.
Other Cases and Official Responses
The platforms YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and Alas Tensas also reported a new case this Monday, which requires access to the police investigation. From January to date, the subregister maintained by OGAT and YSTCC includes three attempted femicides and a total of six cases needing police investigation. These cases involve the deaths of an elderly woman in Esperanza, Villa Clara; another identified as Irma and Teresa Moliner Bosa, both in Havana; Tania Reyes and Samantha (Sami) Heredia Odrens in Santiago de Cuba; and Laura Castillo Zulueta, also in Havana.
In 2023, Cuba saw a record high of 89 femicides, according to the subregister of cases maintained by these organizations since 2019. In total, the observatories have verified 220 femicides between these years.
Despite the rising numbers of fatal violence against women, the Cuban regime did not include femicide in the Penal Code approved in May 2022. Five Cubans were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of women in 2023, according to officials from the Supreme Court and the General Prosecutor's Office on the TV program “Hacemos Cuba,” hosted by regime spokesperson Humberto López.
The previous year, the Cuban judicial system also sentenced two other femicides to 40 years in prison and more than 70% of those accused to sentences ranging from 25 to 30 years of deprivation of liberty.
Understanding the Femicide Crisis in Cuba
Given the rising number of femicide cases in Cuba, it is crucial to address the questions surrounding this tragic phenomenon. Below are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What is femicide?
Femicide is the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. It is a severe form of gender-based violence.
Why is femicide not included in Cuba's Penal Code?
Despite the increasing number of femicides, the Cuban government did not include it in the Penal Code approved in May 2022, a decision that has been widely criticized by human rights organizations.
What steps are being taken to address femicide in Cuba?
Independent feminist organizations like YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and Alas Tensas are working to document and raise awareness about femicides. However, more comprehensive legal and systemic changes are needed to effectively address this issue.