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Elizabeth (Lisi) Ramírez Fernández, a young mother residing in Holguín, was the first fatal victim of gender-based violence in Cuba in 2025, just two days after the start of the new year, as confirmed by independent feminist platforms this Wednesday.
"We regret the first femicide recorded in Cuba in 2025, of Elizabeth (Lisi) Ramírez Fernández, approximately 30 years old, which occurred on January 2 in Cacocum, Holguín," reported the observatories of the magazine Alas Tensas (OGAT) and YoSíTeCreo en Cuba (YSTCC).
Ramírez was attacked in her own home by a man who had been her partner and whom she reported to the police at the end of December for assaults, the platforms indicated in a statement.
OGAT and YSTCC expressed their "rejection of the police for their negligent actions regarding Lisi's complaint" and stated that her femicide could have been prevented "even with the limited current procedures and without a gender-focused approach from the National Revolutionary Police."
Through reports published on social media following the tragic event, it was revealed that the murderer, identified as Omar Torres Durán, killed the young woman after she ended their romantic relationship.
Taking advantage of the fact that she was alone, in the early hours of January 2, Torres burst into Ramírez's home. She managed to escape to the street to get to safety, but he tried to prevent her and fatally attacked her with a knife, leaving her abandoned. The woman was later found by others, although she was already lifeless.
The author of the crime later surrendered to the authorities.
The murder of the young mother caused great shock in the city of Cacocum.
Ramírez is survived by her only son and her maternal grandparents, with whom she lived and who depended on her, the platforms stated in their announcement.
In addition to the first feminicide of 2025, independent organizations reported that they are investigating another possible misogynistic crime in Artemisa, which occurred at the end of the recently concluded year.
Until December 19th, both platforms had confirmed 55 femicides in 2024, eight attempted femicides, and six cases that still required access to the police investigation. Additionally, they reported two murders of men motivated by gender-related reasons.
The Cuban regime has acknowledged machismo violence and, according to official data, in 2023, 110 femicides and 378 cases of sexual violence were prosecuted.
However, femicide is not classified as a specific crime in the Penal Code in force since May 2022.
The official Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) acknowledged last August that more than 16,000 women and girls from 9,579 families are living in situations of violence in the country.
In July 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a national system for the registration, care, follow-up, and monitoring of violence against women, composed of 25 experts from the Ministry of the Interior and the Supreme People's Tribunal.
Frequently Asked Questions about Femicide in Cuba
What is a femicide and what was the first reported case in Cuba in 2025?
A femicide is the murder of a woman for gender-based reasons. The first reported case in Cuba in 2025 was that of Elizabeth (Lisi) Ramírez Fernández, a young mother from Holguín, who was murdered by her ex-partner on January 2.
How has the Cuban police responded to the femicide of Lisi Ramírez?
Feminist platforms Alas Tensas and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba have criticized the Cuban police for their negligence in failing to adequately respond to Lisi Ramírez's prior report against her attacker, which could have prevented her murder.
How many femicides were reported in Cuba in 2024?
As of December 19, 2024, 55 femicides were reported in Cuba, according to data from the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba. Eight attempted femicides were also reported.
Is femicide classified as a crime in Cuba?
Femicide is not classified as a specific crime in the Cuban Penal Code. This complicates the legal handling of these crimes and the implementation of effective policies to prevent them.
Has the Cuban government taken measures to combat gender-based violence?
In July 2024, the Cuban government approved a national system for the registration, care, follow-up, and monitoring of violence against women, comprised of 25 experts from the Ministry of Interior and the Supreme People's Court. However, the lack of classification of femicide as a crime limits the effectiveness of these measures.
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