The grim tally of femicides in Cuba has climbed to 50 this year, following the confirmation on Tuesday of four additional murders of women by their partners or ex-partners, according to data compiled by independent platforms. The victims, Vania Mojena (43), Daynilis Lobaina Torrell (30), Doralis Cardoza Artiles (25), and a 37-year-old woman believed to be Yanisel Riverón Meriño, were killed over a span of one month between October and November, as reported by the Observatorio de Género Alas Tensas (OGAT) and YoSíTeCreo en Cuba (YSTCC).
Recent Tragedies Highlight Urgent Need for Prevention
Mojena was killed on November 13 after being attacked by her ex-partner in her home in Mabay, Bayamo, located in the Granma province. The assault occurred in front of her three children, two of whom are minors. "The abusive behavior she suffered during her relationship was well-known," stated the platforms, underscoring the "urgent need for Cuba to establish a comprehensive prevention system where publicly known cases like this could be averted."
Lobaina's life was taken by her partner on November 10 in Mula de Sabana, Maisí, Guantánamo. Several family members were injured while attempting to stop the brutal attack. Lobaina was a mother to two young girls.
Ongoing Efforts to Document and Verify Cases
On November 1, Cardoza was murdered by her partner in their home on the Isle of Turiguanó, Morón, in the Ciego de Ávila province. She leaves behind two minor children. Information indicates that on October 12, a woman identified as Yanisel Riverón Meriño was killed by her partner in a public space in Holguín. Before committing the murder, the attacker also assaulted Riverón's 15-year-old son, who is now safe from life-threatening harm.
Both OGAT and YSTCC expressed their condolences to the children and families of the victims. Their report notes that these incidents were shared by media outlets, citizens, and activists and were verified through community sources in a joint effort by both organizations.
Discrepancies in Official and Independent Reports
According to their records, there have been six attempted femicides, and investigations are needed for six additional potential cases in Havana (3), Santiago de Cuba (2), and Villa Clara (1). The organizations are also examining other suspected femicides: two in Matanzas, two in Havana, and one each in Las Tunas, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba.
In a statement, OGAT and YSTCC also mourned and extended sympathies to the families of two Cuban women killed under human trafficking conditions by organized crime in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico.
The platforms' unofficial count included 89 femicides in Cuba for 2023. However, in December of that year, the Cuban government released official statistics on violence against women, revealing 117 femicides by the end of October, although they refrained from using the term "femicide" to describe these murders.
The discrepancy between the Cuban government's figures and those from independent feminist organizations reflects ongoing challenges in addressing women's rights and safety in the country. In August, the regime disclosed that 110 gender-related killings of women aged 15 and older were prosecuted in 2023, alongside 378 cases of sexual violence and numerous injuries from attacks by former partners.
The Cuban Penal Code lacks a specific classification for femicide, and terms like "femicide" or "gender-based crime" are not utilized. The Federación de Mujeres Cubanas (FMC) admitted that over 16,000 women and girls from 9,579 families endure violence. The government recently established a national system for recording, addressing, monitoring, and following up on gender violence within family settings.