Feminist platforms reported on Friday that the number of femicides in Cuba this year has increased to 34. This count includes the recent deaths of Saimy Hernández in the province of Mayabeque and Linda Nay Flores Vargas, whose body was found in a landfill in Havana several weeks ago.
Saimy Hernández, approximately 40 years old and a mother of several children, was killed by her partner on August 13 in a public area of the town of Güines, Mayabeque. Linda Nay Flores Vargas, aged 34, was discovered dead in a landfill in Havana on July 12. Investigations revealed that she was murdered by her partner.
"We highlight the extreme violence and disappearance she suffered, as well as the disposal of her body in a garbage dump as indicators of femicidal violence in the country," stated the Gender Observatory Alas Tensas (OGAT) and the YoSíTeCreo platform in Cuba.
In Linda Nay Flores's case, whose postmortem photos have circulated on social media, these platforms urged citizens not to share images of the crime scene, as it "causes pain to the families and normalizes cruelty."
The sub-registry conducted by OGAT and YoSíTeCreo up to August 23 records 34 femicides, three attempted femicides, six cases needing police investigation, and two gender-related murders of men. The cases requiring investigation include: an elderly woman (Esperanza, Villa Clara); Irma (Havana); Teresa Moliner Bosa (Havana); Tania Reyes (Santiago de Cuba); Samantha (Sami) Heredia Odrens (Santiago de Cuba); and Laura Castillo Zulueta (Havana).
Additionally, investigations are ongoing in Las Tunas (1), Matanzas (1), Camagüey (2), and Guantánamo (1). According to official data, last year in Cuba, 110 individuals were prosecuted for femicide—a term the island's authorities refuse to use—378 cases of sexual violence, and several women were left injured by attacks from their ex-partners.
Government's Response
In late July, the Cuban government established a national system for the registration, attention, follow-up, and monitoring of gender-based violence within families, as discussed in a Council of Ministers meeting.
A report from the state-run Granma newspaper mentioned that the system comprises "25 experts" from the Ministry of the Interior and the Supreme People's Court. Its objective is to develop "a computerized and interoperable administrative registry, utilizing the platforms of these institutions to manage criminal processes."
The Attorney General of the Republic, Yamila Peña Ojeda, indicated that the primary utility of this tracking system is to serve as a database providing statistical information for the prevention of gender-based violence.
Understanding Femicides in Cuba
Here we address some common questions about the rising number of femicides in Cuba and the efforts being made to tackle this crisis.
What is the current number of femicides in Cuba for this year?
As of now, there have been 34 recorded femicides in Cuba this year.
Who are the recent victims mentioned in the report?
The recent victims are Saimy Hernández from Mayabeque and Linda Nay Flores Vargas from Havana.
What actions have been taken by the Cuban government to address gender-based violence?
The Cuban government has created a national system for the registration, attention, follow-up, and monitoring of gender-based violence, involving experts from the Ministry of the Interior and the Supreme People's Court.