Cuban Courts Confirm 49 Gender-Based Homicides in 2025 Trials

Cuban courts identified a total of 49 gender-based homicides of women over 15 years old in trials conducted during 2025, the government confirmed. This figure translates to a rate of 1.19 per 100,000 women, marking a decrease from the 76 cases processed in 2024 and 60 in 2023, according to data from the state Observatory on Gender Equality, released by the National Office of Statistics and Information (Onei).

By province, Havana led with twelve cases, followed by Mayabeque, Camagüey, and Holguín, each with six cases judged in 2025. The majority of these crimes, 33 in total, occurred in urban areas. The official report also specified that in 46.9% of the total cases, the perpetrator was an ex-partner of the victim.

Data compiled by EFE from feminist NGOs indicated at least 46 machista murders occurred in Cuba in 2025. Women aged between 20 and 44 were the most frequent victims, accounting for 38 cases. The statistics also noted that 75.5% of the victims were unemployed, and the majority were white.

Further details from the report revealed that in 89.7% of the cases, the crime took place within the home. Additionally, 32 victims had minor children, leaving a total of 54 minors without maternal care. The independent feminist platform Alas Tensas has recently documented approximately 350 femicides in Cuba from 2019 to June 2026. This NGO has expressed concern over the rise in femicides during the first half of the current year, suggesting that Cuba's ongoing economic and energy crisis contributes to increased vulnerability for women and girls.

Cuba does not specifically classify femicide as a distinct crime in its Penal Code, and state media rarely reports on such incidents. While the Cuban government has declared "zero tolerance" for gender-based violence, activists criticize the lack of concrete actions in prevention, victim care, and support.