Spanish
Havana.- Activists from the independent platforms Alas Tensas and Yo Sí Te Creo confirmed this Wednesday three new femicides in Cuba, raising the total number of sexist murders to 29 so far this year, according to data collected by EFE from the records of both feminist organizations.
One of the victims is Damaris Ricardo Martínez, 48 years old, who on August 28 was mortally attacked by her partner in her home in the town of Cueto, in the province of Holguín (northeast). The aggressor committed suicide after committing the crime, according to activists.
Also in Holguín they verified the crime of Yolennis Rojas Rojas, 32 years old, which occurred at the hands of her ex-partner, in the Corojal neighborhood of La Palma, in the municipality of Rafael Freyre.
The third reported femicide is that of Dayli Villa Ortiz, 24 years old, murdered on August 25 by her partner in the town of Carlos Rojas, Matanzas province (west), and according to feminists, the violent event was witnessed by one of the victim's three daughters."The painful events happened on July 29 and reveal the urgency of specialized protection systems to support women in leaving violent homes. Yolennis tried and received direct support from her father, who was injured and almost died," they add.
The activists sent their condolences to the families and loved ones of the three murdered women.
They also indicated that they are currently investigating three similar incidents in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba (east), and the central provinces of Villa Clara (1) and Camagüey (1).You can also read: Simultaneous blackouts will affect Cuba this Tuesday
In their most recent report, Alas Tensas and Yo Sí Te Creo point out "the tendency towards greater violence against women's bodies, which is demonstrated with aggravating factors in an increasing number of cases."Their work and dissemination in independent media have contributed to focusing on these cases. These platforms also insist that a "state of emergency for gender violence" be declared.
In the Cuban Penal Code, femicide is not typified as a specific crime, nor is the use of the terms "femicide" or "machista crime" common in state media. The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has declared "zero tolerance" against gender-based violence and although there is not frequent information about femicides in the state media, in recent months reports and articles about this problem have appeared. The Cuban government confirmed that the courts identified a total of 76 women murdered by their partners, ex-partners, or other people in trials held last year. In trials held in 2023, 110 victims were recorded. Recently, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Interior, the Supreme Court, and other institutions announced the joint development of an electronic administrative registry, but not public, to collect data on femicides.
