At least 11 women die daily in Latin America and the Caribbean as a result of femicide, according to the latest report from CEPAL, which includes the case of Cuba for the first time.
The document, prepared by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL), indicates that in the region, 3,897 women were victims of femicide in 2023.
For the first time, the number includes deaths caused by gender-based violence in Cuba, although the report is imprecise.
CEPAL recorded only 60 femicides on the island, while the independent gender observatories Alas Tensas and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba reported 89 femicides, and the regime itself noted more than 120 during the same period.
The organization, based in Chile, states that the figure for the island represents 1.1 violent deaths of women per 100,000 inhabitants; however, according to the mentioned independent platforms, the actual rate of femicides in Cuba would rise to 1.7, positioning it as the third highest in the region.
That figure is surpassed only by Honduras (7.2) and the Dominican Republic (2.4).
According to CEPAL figures, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil lead in femicide rates in Latin America, while Haiti (0.2) and Chile (0.4) have the lowest rates.
Most of these crimes occur in current or former romantic relationships, primarily affecting women aged 30 to 59 (56.4%).
In the countries that reported indirect victims – children of murdered women – a total of 488 affected individuals were recorded.
Regarding laws against gender-based violence, although all countries in the region have specific regulations, CEPAL emphasized that these are insufficient to address the magnitude of violence against women and girls.
A recent analysis of the Cubadata project revealed a concerning increase in various forms of violence in Cuba, particularly gender-based violence. According to the report, 9.3% of respondents stated that someone in their household had been a victim of sexual assault in 2023, marking an increase of 4.3% compared to the previous year.
Domestic violence and sexual harassment were identified as methods of control used both in domestic and political spheres, particularly against dissenting women.
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