Independent feminist platforms have reported that the number of verified femicides in Cuba has risen to 23 so far this year. The latest victim, Aniuska Hernández Ginard, 49, a married mother of three, was murdered inside her home in Guantánamo on Tuesday, June 4, by a neighbor with a history of gender-based violence and murder, according to the Observatory of Gender of Alas Tensas (OGAT) and the feminist platform Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC).
The assailant has been identified by other neighbors as Rafael Rivera Hechavarría, also known as "El Niño," and is currently on the run, OGAT's official site reported.
Hernández Ginard's youngest daughter, just seven years old, witnessed the crime. The victim also had two other daughters, aged 12 and 20.
First Verified Femicide in Guantánamo This Year
This tragic incident marks the first verified femicide in Guantánamo this year. In 2023, five violent deaths of women were recorded in this province.
According to the platforms, a total of 23 femicides, along with three attempted femicides and six unsolved crimes in Villa Clara, Havana, and Santiago de Cuba, have been reported in 2024.
Ileana Álvarez, director of OGAT, noted that although the number of verified femicides this year is lower than last year's 89, this does not necessarily indicate a decrease in cases.
Álvarez pointed out that the government has pressured victims' families to prevent them from publicly reporting the deaths of their loved ones, complicating the registration and triangulation of reports by the observatories.
The report explains that both observatories have verified femicides in nine provinces. The highest incidence of these crimes is in Camagüey (five cases), Santiago de Cuba (four), and Holguín and Havana (three each).
This year also saw the murder of a man due to gender-based motives. The feminist platforms are currently working on verifying femicide alerts in Havana, Artemisa, Camagüey, and Santiago de Cuba. Last week, OGAT and YSTCC verified three more femicides in Holguín, Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba.
The lack of clear and transparent official data continues to be a challenge for organizations working to verify and report these crimes in Cuba, they emphasized.
Key Questions About Femicides in Cuba
Given the rising number of femicides in Cuba, many questions arise regarding the circumstances and challenges faced by organizations in verifying these crimes. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What is the total number of verified femicides in Cuba this year?
As of now, 23 femicides have been verified in Cuba this year.
Who was the latest femicide victim in Cuba?
The latest victim was Aniuska Hernández Ginard, a 49-year-old mother of three from Guantánamo.
What challenges do organizations face in verifying femicides in Cuba?
Organizations face challenges such as government pressure on victims' families and lack of clear and transparent official data.