The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba are reaching out for help in identifying a woman who was killed on the streets of Holguín by her partner. In a social media post, these organizations revealed that the victim was 37 years old and the tragic event took place on October 12th.
"We are seeking confirmation of the identity of a 37-year-old woman who was murdered by her partner on October 12, 2024, in Holguín's public streets. Prior to this, the aggressor had severely injured her 15-year-old son at home, who is now out of danger," they reported.
On November 14th, the groups YoSíTeCreo in Cuba and the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory updated the number of confirmed femicides this year to 46, following the verification of a mother's murder by her ex-partner in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, which left two young girls without their mother.
Escalating Violence and Inadequate Legal Framework
Adding to this count are five attempted femicides, six cases pending police investigation, and two gender-based murders of men. Recent reports also highlighted the killing of a Cuban woman in Maisí, Guantánamo, by her partner. In August, the regime disclosed that 60 cases of female murders for gender reasons were tried in courts in 2023. Of these, 50 women, or 83.3%, were killed by their partners or ex-partners, with the remaining cases involving other perpetrators, according to data from the Cuban Gender Equality Observatory.
Additionally, 378 cases of sexual violence were prosecuted, and an unspecified number of women were left injured following assaults by their ex-partners. Notably, the Cuban Penal Code does not classify femicide as a distinct crime, nor does it use the terms "femicide" or "gender-based crime."
Acknowledgment of Widespread Domestic Violence
The state-affiliated Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) has acknowledged that over 16,000 women and girls, from 9,579 families, are living in situations of violence within Cuba. In response to this crisis, the government established a national system in July to register, address, monitor, and track incidents of gender violence within the family setting.