Alba Delia Sánchez Benítez, 58, was murdered by her ex-partner early Sunday morning while she was at work in her workplace in Cotorro, Havana. Sánchez, a mother of two adult children, was a security and protection agent at the "Dr. Fermín Valdés Domínguez" Student Residence in the Havana municipality where the crime occurred.
Friends of the victim confirmed to digital newspaper CubaNet that the assailant, exploiting his past romantic relationship with Sánchez, convinced another guard at the residence to let him into the building, where he then fatally stabbed the woman. A close friend of the deceased, who asked to remain anonymous, told the independent outlet that she had ended the relationship with the man. "No one could have imagined that he would do something like this, but he seemed obsessed with her. After killing her, he took her phone to check if she was with someone else. That’s how the police were able to catch him, through the phone," the source explained.
One of Sánchez's sons resides in the United States and is expected to arrive in Cuba on Monday, along with the victim’s mother and brother, to attend her funeral, CubaNet reported.
This murder brings the total number of reported femicides in Cuba to 27 so far this year. The platform YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and the Observatorio de Género Alas Tensas, which maintain an unofficial count of crimes against women, had confirmed 25 femicides in the country as of June 12, following two additional cases: Cindy Samanthy González Espinosa (Samy), 32, in Havana on May 18, and Katia Ortiz Figueredo, 25 and mother of two minors, in Las Tunas on June 5.
On Saturday, it was reported that another mother of two children, Liset Quesada Romero, was killed by her partner in Bejucal municipality, Mayabeque province, according to sources close to the woman.
Feminist platforms have repeatedly called on the Cuban government to declare a state of emergency over gender violence and advocate for a comprehensive law against machismo-driven violence, as femicide is not classified under Cuba's Penal Code.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated in March that convictions for gender-based murders in 2023 had tripled compared to 2022, rising from 18 to 61. Although he acknowledged that incidents of gender violence "appear with regrettable frequency," Díaz-Canel claimed that the "enemies of the revolution"—whom he did not specifically name—"conveniently and tendentiously manipulate" the statistics.
Understanding Femicide and Gender Violence in Cuba
To provide more insight into the ongoing issue of femicides and gender violence in Cuba, we address some frequently asked questions on the subject.
What is the current femicide rate in Cuba?
As of now, 27 femicides have been reported in Cuba this year, according to independent platforms like YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and Observatorio de Género Alas Tensas.
What actions are feminist platforms requesting from the Cuban government?
Feminist platforms are urging the Cuban government to declare a state of emergency for gender violence and to implement a comprehensive law against gender-based violence.
Has the Cuban government acknowledged the issue of gender violence?
Yes, President Miguel Díaz-Canel has acknowledged that incidents of gender violence occur frequently, and he reported an increase in convictions for such crimes in 2023.