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The murder of a nurse in the Antonio Guiteras neighborhood (Bahía) in eastern Havana shocked the community this Monday and points to another case of femicide in the country, according to sources close to the victim.
Odalys Bataille, 53 years old and mother of two young adults, was killed in the morning at her home on 15th Street in the neighborhood located in the municipality of Habana del Este, reported activist Yamilka Lafita - known on social media as Lara Crofs - based on information provided by the woman's neighbors.
“Odalys was leaving her house early when the perpetrator approached and stabbed her several times,” in front of her husband and other family members, Lafita reported. According to some individuals in Facebook posts, at the time of the tragic incident, the victim was accompanied, in addition to her partner, by her sister and brother-in-law.
The alleged criminal is last named Plana, is around 60 years old, and is serving a sentence for the murders of his ex-wife and her partner, Lafita specified. He was on leave from prison and fled after the crime, although some stated that he has already turned himself in to the police.
Bataille was a nurse by profession and "very loved and respected in the neighborhood," highlighted the activist. She had two daughters, aged 23 and 24 years old.
It has not been revealed what relationship existed between the killer and the victim, although many people agree that the incident should be regarded as a femicide, as it is an event of extreme violence against a woman and is the second crime of the same nature committed by the aggressor.
The Cuban regime does not acknowledge the existence of femicide in the country, a crime that is not classified as an offense in the current Penal Code. However, authorities have had to recognize the increase in male violence against women, as well as the crimes resulting from it in recent years.
The independent feminist platforms Alas Tensas and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba have been responsible since 2019 for maintaining an underreporting of femicides reported on the island.
So far this year, seven cases have been verified and three alerts are being investigated in Artemisa, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba.
The murder of the Cuban nurse reported this Monday had not been corroborated by independent platforms at the time this notice was published.
Frequently Asked Questions about Femicide in Cuba
What happened to the nurse who was murdered in the Guiteras neighborhood of Havana?
Odalys Bataille, a 53-year-old nurse, was stabbed in her home in the Antonio Guiteras neighborhood of Havana by a man who was serving a sentence for previous murders. This crime is considered by many to be a femicide.
Is femicide classified as a crime in Cuba?
No, femicide is not classified as a crime in the Cuban Penal Code. Despite this, feminist platforms like Alas Tensas and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba are working to raise awareness and document these crimes, although they face challenges due to the lack of official recognition.
What role do feminist platforms play in Cuba?
Feminist platforms such as Alas Tensas and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba play a crucial role in recording femicides and gender-based violence on the island. These organizations document cases and issue alerts about new incidents, as the Cuban government does not provide transparent statistics nor officially acknowledges these crimes.
How many femicides have been confirmed in Cuba in 2025?
As of March 2025, seven cases of femicide have been verified in Cuba, according to the feminist platforms Alas Tensas and YoSíTeCreo en Cuba. Additionally, three more alerts are being investigated in Artemisa, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba.
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