Independent NGO registers new femicide in Cuba, 37 this year

An independent feminist platform in Cuba has confirmed another femicide, raising the year's total to 37. The victim, 43-year-old Yunierkis Gómez Lozano, died on July 9 in Cumanayagua, Cienfuegos, after a struggle with her partner, the father of her two teenage children. The platform, Alas Tensas (AT), stated she fell from a rooftop during the altercation. Her partner died by suicide afterward.

AT expressed condolences to the victim's children and community, highlighting the "cruel situation in the country." The platform is investigating 12 other potential femicides and 5 attempted cases from 2025, along with 10 potential femicides and 3 attempts from 2026. AT has repeatedly warned about extreme violence against women in Cuba, particularly within relationships and with ex-partners, often involving high levels of brutality.

An AT analysis from April indicated that in 93.8% of verified cases in Cuba, the aggressor was known to the victim, underscoring the risk within close relationships. The platform argues that Cuba's critical situation exacerbates the vulnerability of women and girls to gender-based violence. They have called for a national network of shelters and public protocols.

Cuba does not legally classify femicide as a crime in its Penal Code, and state media seldom covers these incidents. While the government has declared "zero tolerance" for gender-based violence, activists criticize the lack of concrete actions in prevention, care, and victim support. Official data from the National Organization of Collective Law Firms in 2024 identified 76 women murdered by partners or ex-partners in court proceedings. However, data compiled by EFE from feminist NGOs indicates at least 46 machista murders in Cuba in 2025.