A beloved teacher and mother of two, aged 35, was tragically murdered by her partner in a public street on April 12 in Las Delicias, a community within Puerto Padre municipality, Las Tunas province. This shocking crime has left neighbors, colleagues, and women’s rights advocates deeply shaken.
The victim, Nancy Leyva García, affectionately called Nancita by those who knew her, was a well-regarded educator in her community. The news, initially circulated on social media platforms over the weekend on pages like La Tijera, was later confirmed by the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT).
According to the feminist organization, Nancy was fatally stabbed by her partner, Omarito Fidalgo Peña, right on the street, and the perpetrator was subsequently handed over to the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). He is currently detained at the local police station.
“We mourn yet another femicide in Cuba with the loss of teacher Nancy (Nancita) Leyva García. Our condolences go to her colleagues and all those she touched who now grieve her untimely departure,” OGAT expressed on platform X.
The incident took place on Calle 13 in the town of Las Tunas. Witnesses described the scene as harrowing and have voiced their distress on social media. Nancy leaves behind two children, whose ages have not been disclosed by community sources.
The Growing Crisis of Gender-Based Violence in Cuba
This femicide adds to a worrying rise in gender-based violence in Cuba. Up to April 14, gender observatories OGAT and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) have confirmed at least 11 femicides. Just days earlier, on April 10, the 10th case was reported, involving a 40-year-old Cuban woman murdered by her partner on March 27 in her home in Guayos, Sancti Spíritus province.
Both organizations have also alerted the public to five new potential femicides under investigation in Artemisa, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana, which could further escalate the issue of violence against women on the island.
Challenges in Addressing Gender Violence
Feminist groups and independent activists continue to criticize the absence of comprehensive legislation against gender violence, the lack of shelters for women at risk, and the limited official visibility of these crimes.
The Cuban government does not officially recognize the term "femicide" nor has it categorized it as a crime in the Penal Code effective since 2022. Nonetheless, it has had to concede the rising trend of violence against women and the increasing occurrence of related crimes in recent years.
Even the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel has dismissed the issue, stating "categorically that it is a media fabrication completely unrelated to the Cuban reality." He argues that there is no “state inaction” concerning these crimes.
Understanding the Impact of Gender Violence in Cuba
What is the current situation of gender-based violence in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing a troubling rise in gender-based violence, with at least 11 femicides confirmed so far this year by gender observatories OGAT and YSTCC.
How is the Cuban government responding to these crimes?
The Cuban government does not recognize "femicide" as a legal term and has not included it as a crime in the Penal Code. However, it acknowledges the rise in violence against women.
Are there any measures in place to protect women at risk?
Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive laws against gender violence and insufficient shelters for women at risk, which has been criticized by feminist groups and activists.