Related videos:
Independent feminist platforms confirmed this Wednesday two more femicides in Cuba, which brings the total number of violent crimes against women to nine in just three months of 2025.
The gender observatories of YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and the magazine Alas Tensas verified the femicides of Odalys Bataille Skyers, 53 years old, in Havana, and the elderly woman Julia Salvadora Segura Guerra, in Ciego de Ávila.
As a result of both incidents, the organizations warned in a joint statement that this year "cases involving women close to old age are prevailing". By February, two femicide cases of elderly women had already been reported in Artemisa and Havana.
In the most recent case, which occurred on the morning of this Monday, Bataille was stabbed by a man who was lurking at the exit of her home, in the Guiteras neighborhood, East Havana, the text published by both platforms noted.
"Although the relationship between victim and aggressor is yet to be clarified, the characteristics of the crime and the offender's background indicate a gender bias," they emphasized.
The attacker committed the murder in front of Bataille's current partner and other family members, and then fled the scene. According to reports on social media, he is a man with the last name Plana, around 60 years old, who was on temporary leave from prison, where he is serving a sentence for having murdered a woman who had been his wife and her partner.
A Bataille, a beloved and respected nurse from a polyclinic, is survived by her two adult daughters.
On March 15, Segura was last seen. Days later, her body was found buried in the yard of the home she shared with her partner in the municipality of Primero de Enero, in Ciego de Ávila.
Independent platforms warned that "the situation of disappearance and the concealment of the body reveal gender bias".
According to reports, the woman's body had multiple stab wounds. After preliminary investigations, her husband was deemed the main suspect in the crime and was arrested by the police.
The news of the murder caused shock and outrage among the victim’s family, friends, and neighbors, a woman who was very beloved in the community for her kindness and friendly demeanor, as numerous people stated on social media.
OGAT and YSTCC are investigating four alerts of possible femicides in the provinces of Artemisa, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana, and urged the public to report crimes of gender-based violence.
Both platforms have documented since 2019 an underreporting of feminicide cases occurring in Cuba. In 2024, they reported 55 crimes of that nature on the island.
Over the years, they have called on the Cuban government to declare a state of emergency due to gender-based violence and advocated for comprehensive legislation to confront this scourge and ensure the protection of women.
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, it has had to admit the rise in male violence against women, and the crimes stemming from it in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Femicides in Cuba in 2025
How many femicides have been recorded in Cuba in 2025?
As of the end of March 2025, nine femicides have been confirmed in Cuba, according to independent feminist platforms such as Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba and the magazine Alas Tensas. These organizations conduct detailed monitoring due to the lack of official recognition of femicide as a crime in the country.
Which groups of women are being most affected by femicides in Cuba in 2025?
In 2025, an increase in feminicides of women close to old age has been observed. Feminist organizations have highlighted this troubling pattern, noting that older women are particularly vulnerable in the current wave of gender-based violence on the island.
How are femicides being documented and verified in Cuba?
Femicides in Cuba are being documented and verified by independent platforms such as Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba and the magazine Alas Tensas. These organizations work with community sources and social networks to confirm cases, as the Cuban government does not officially recognize feminicide as a specific crime.
What actions have been taken to combat gender-based violence in Cuba?
Despite pressure from feminist organizations, the Cuban government has been criticized for its inaction on the issue of gender violence. No state of emergency has been declared for gender violence, nor is there a comprehensive law addressing femicide. Authorities have acknowledged an increase in machismo-related violence, but the measures taken so far have not been effective in tackling the problem.
Filed under: