Feminicides: 20% of the murders in Camagüey were due to gender violence in the last three years

20% of the murders recorded in Camagüey between 2022 and 2025 were femicides, a fact recently revealed by researchers in that province.

These crimes, seen as the most extreme expression of violence against women, have become "an alarm in recent years in our country," acknowledged the official newspaper Adelante, in a report from the Provincial Scientific Day of Mental Health, held the previous week.

The research presented on the topic seeks to "generate actions aimed at protecting women and girls from abuse and to materialize quality services to assist survivors of these abuses," as noted by the newspaper, which did not provide any further details about the study.

Until April 14, the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas and the platform Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba had confirmed at least 11 femicides in the country so far in 2025. Both independent organizations are investigating another five alerts in Santiago de Cuba (2), Artemisa, Matanzas, and Havana.

The number could rise to 12 if the case of a Cuban mother stabbed by her partner in Santiago de Cuba on April 16 is confirmed as femicide, in the presence of her young daughter and her sick mother, although the platforms have not commented on this crime.

Feminist organizations and independent activists continue to denounce the absence of comprehensive legislation against gender-based violence in Cuba, the lack of shelters for women in precarious situations, and the limited official visibility of these crimes.

The Cuban government does not recognize the term “feminicide” nor has it classified it as a crime in the Penal Code effective since 2022. However, it has had to acknowledge the rise in misogynistic violence against women and the crimes stemming from it in recent years.

Even the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has stated “categorically that this is a media construct entirely disconnected from Cuban reality.” The justification for not addressing it, according to the president, is that there is no “state inaction” in the face of these crimes.

Alert about the "chemical" among teenagers and young people

At the scientific event held in Camagüey, experts also warned about the rise in consumption of the so-called “chemical” and other drugs, with a growing impact among adolescents and young people.

The topic was addressed during the round table discussion “Addictive Behaviors in Adolescents,” with participation from professionals of the Eduardo Agramonte Piña Pediatric Hospital, the Department of Education, and members of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).

The specialists discussed statistics by sex, age, and type of drug, as well as the reasons that motivate consumption and the harm it causes in adolescents and young people, according to a report by Adelante, which did not provide specific details on the matter.

During the scientific session, more than 40 presentations were made on topics related to suicide, drugs, nursing protocols, medications and therapies, antisocial behavior in adolescents, school phobia, neuroplasticity, and multidisciplinary care for cancer patients.

Frequently Asked Questions about Femicide and Gender Violence in Cuba