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In yet another alleged case of gender-based violence in Cuba, a woman residing in Vertientes, Camagüey, died due to a brutal attack by her partner, according to a relative of the victim who confirmed this to CiberCuba.
María de los Ángeles Boyce Pereira, 56 years old and with intellectual disabilities, passed away as a result of a beating and a stab wound to the chest inflicted by her husband early last week in their home in the Piñerúa neighborhood of the Vertientes municipality.
The assailant, whose name has not been disclosed, was arrested by the police after committing the murder, the source specified. The case is under police investigation.
This tragic incident, which exhibits characteristics of a femicide, adds to the five gender-based violence crimes recorded since the beginning of this year, as confirmed by the gender observatories of the independent platforms YoSíTeCreo en Cuba (YSTCC) and Alas Tensas (OGAT).
The latest verified cases of femicides by both organizations involved two elderly women. Julia Safón Álvarez, 61 years old, was murdered by her partner on January 7 in Artemisa, while an elderly woman identified as Bertha was killed by her grandson on February 11 in the home they shared in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana.
This last case, a familial feminicide, “a modality that occurs infrequently,” as stated by the platforms, “draws attention to the situation of older women in Cuba and their ongoing role as caregivers, even when they should be receiving care themselves.”
Although it has not been confirmed as a femicide, at the beginning of February, another violent crime against a woman was reported in Vertientes, which caused shock in that municipality.
Cristina Guerra, 54 years old and mother of two children, died after being shot multiple times by an unknown man, reportedly hooded, inside her home in the town of San Antonio, according to witnesses.
The incident gained attention on social media; however, a month after it occurred, the authorities have yet to release any official information about the event or whether the suspect in the crime has been apprehended.
OGAT and YSTCC reported at the end of February that they are investigating four alerts of possible femicides, one of which is in Camagüey, while the others are in Artemisa, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba.
According to the underreporting from both platforms, 55 femicides occurred in Cuba in 2024, a troubling figure, although lower than the 89 cases recorded the previous year.
Frequently Asked Questions about Feminicides in Cuba
What crime was recently reported in the municipality of Vertientes, Camagüey?
María de los Ángeles Boyce Pereira was murdered by her partner in Vertientes, Camagüey. The 56-year-old woman, who had an intellectual disability, died as a result of a beating and a stab wound to the chest. This tragic event is part of a troubling series of femicides in Cuba.
What is the situation of femicides in Cuba in 2025?
As of now, in 2025, five femicides have been confirmed in Cuba, according to the underreporting recorded by the platforms YoSíTeCreo en Cuba (YSTCC) and Alas Tensas (OGAT). These cases reflect a concerning crisis of gender-based violence in the country.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address gender-based violence?
The Cuban government has created a national system for the registration, care, tracking, and monitoring of gender-based violence within the family setting, although the effectiveness of these measures continues to be questioned due to the lack of classification of femicide as a specific crime in the Criminal Code. A telephone hotline has also been established in 40 municipalities to support victims.
How can feminicides be reported in Cuba?
The reports of femicides in Cuba can be made using encrypted messaging services like WhatsApp or Messenger to ensure the safety of the reporter. The platforms Alas Tensas and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba provide additional ways such as email and phone numbers, emphasizing that it is not a crime to publicly report femicides.
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