Independent NGO registers new femicide in Cuba, bringing total to 44 this year

A new femicide in Cuba has brought the year's total to 44, according to the independent feminist platform Alas Tensas (AT). The victim, 55-year-old doctor Yanelkys Alonso Valdés, was attacked by her ex-partner at her home in Güines, Mayabeque province.

During the attack, the victim's elderly mother, over 75, and a male relative who intervened were also seriously injured. The alleged perpetrator reportedly self-harmed and has been detained. The platform extended condolences to the victim's adult son living abroad, other family members, and colleagues.

Alas Tensas also reported investigating 12 potential femicides, five attempts, and one gender-motivated male murder in 2025, along with 12 potential femicides and 14 attempts in 2026. The group has repeatedly warned about "persistent extreme violence" against women in Cuba, particularly by current or former partners, often with "high levels of brutality."

Activists argue that Cuba's current economic and energy crisis contributes to the increased vulnerability of women and girls. AT's 2025 report indicated that in 93.8% of verified cases, the aggressor was known to the victim, highlighting the risk within relational contexts. Cuba does not legally recognize femicide as a crime, and state media rarely covers such incidents. The government has declared "zero tolerance" for gender-based violence, with courts identifying 49 women over 15 murdered by partners or others in 2025.