Rising Violence Against Women in Cuba Sparks Outrage

Rising violence against women in Cuba has sparked significant public outrage, particularly following the recent femicide of 26-year-old Elianne Reyes Gomez, who was murdered by her partner in Madruga on December 7, 2025.

This incident marked the 44th verified femicide in Cuba for the year, according to the Observatorio de Genero de la revista Alas Tensas (OGAT) and the platform YoSiTeCreo en Cuba (YSTCC). The organizations, which operate in the absence of official statistics, emphasize the urgent need for stronger legal protections against gender-based violence, including the formal recognition of femicide.

They reported that from 2019 to date, they have verified at least 300 femicides in Cuba, highlighting the systemic issue of gender violence in a country where such acts are often inadequately addressed by authorities.

Additionally, a report from the state-sponsored Observatorio de Cuba sobre Igualdad de Genero indicated that 76 women aged fifteen and older were killed in gender-related murders in 2024, with the majority of the perpetrators being partners or ex-partners.

Activists call for the establishment of protocols and comprehensive laws to combat this violence, stressing that the current legal framework does not adequately address the severity of the issue. Amidst these developments, protests occurred globally on December 10, 2025, coinciding with the International Day of Human Rights, where Cuban exiles demanded action against human rights abuses, including violence against women.

The protests reflected broader societal frustrations with the Cuban government's handling of civil rights and gender-based violence, further emphasizing the pressing need for reform and accountability in protecting women.