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The Provincial People's Court of Havana announced the sentence issued by the Municipal People's Court of Arroyo Naranjo on September 29, 2025, in the oral and public trial related to case number 84 of that year.
In the process, Daima Rodríguez Núñez and Carlos Díaz González were judged for offenses related to the corruption of minors, acts contrary to the integral development of children, and sexual abuse, emphasized a statement published by the People's Supreme Court on its website.
During the trial, it was demonstrated that Daima Rodríguez Núñez, the biological mother and legal guardian of four girls aged 10, 7, 4, and 1 — the three older ones having cognitive impairments and being attended to in special schools — repeatedly failed to fulfill her caregiving responsibilities.
The minors did not receive proper education or medical attention, and their nutrition was inadequate, despite having support from the municipal government.
Moreover, the mother would be away from home for long periods, even overnight, leaving the girls alone in vulnerable conditions.
The investigation also revealed that Rodríguez and his partner, Carlos Díaz González, forced the girls to wander the streets at various times to ask neighbors and strangers for food and money, resources they then used to purchase alcoholic beverages.
In that context of neglect, Díaz took advantage of the situation to approach the seven-year-old girl and inappropriately touch her over her clothing, a behavior that the mother allowed without intervening.
As a result of the legal proceedings, the court declared Daima Rodríguez Núñez guilty of corruption of minors and other acts contrary to child development, imposing a sentence of eight years of imprisonment.
Carlos Díaz González was sentenced to ten years in prison for corruption of minors and lewd conduct.
Additionally, accessory penalties were imposed: the mother was stripped of parental rights over her daughters, and both defendants were deprived of civil rights and prohibited from leaving the national territory.
In Matanzas, the death of a boy just two years old with visible signs of physical abuse raised alarms about child violence in Cuba.
The minor was admitted in critical condition to the Eliseo Noel Caamaño pediatric hospital, with bruises, fever, and respiratory distress, which led the medical team to identify internal perforations.
Despite undergoing emergency surgery, she passed away just a few hours later. The case was reported as a possible infanticide and sparked concern in the community.
Days later, it was revealed that three other abused children had been treated in hospitals in Matanzas so far this year, surpassing the figures for all of 2024.
Pediatricians and psychologists warn that many of these cases are disguised as supposed household accidents, when in reality they reflect negligence, abandonment, or structural violence.
Health professionals and legal institutions indicate that Cuban laws allow for the withdrawal of parental rights, but there is a concerning underreporting due to institutional silence and a lack of effective reporting.
In this same climate of vulnerability, activist Maylen Díaz Delgado reported that the Cuban judicial system allows her daughter to remain exposed to her aggressor, a man convicted of sexual abuse.
Despite what the law stipulates, a ruling issued in Camagüey could restore parental authority to the father, which contradicts the Penal Code, the Family Code, and the Constitution.
The complaint has been supported by feminist organizations that demand an urgent review of the ruling and warn about the risk of re-victimization of children.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sentencing in Havana for Abandonment and Crimes Against Minors
Why were Daima Rodríguez Núñez and Carlos Díaz González convicted in Havana?
Daima Rodríguez Núñez and Carlos Díaz González were convicted of corruption of minors and sexual abuse. The court determined that both failed in their duties of care and protection towards the minors, exposing them to situations of vulnerability and abuse.
What sanctions did the accused receive in the Havana trial?
Daima Rodríguez Núñez was sentenced to eight years in prison and Carlos Díaz González to ten years in prison. Additionally, Rodríguez's parental rights over her daughters were suspended, and both were deprived of civil rights and the ability to leave the national territory.
What specific actions led to the conviction of those involved in Havana?
It was proven that the minors did not receive adequate education or medical care, and their nutrition was insufficient. Furthermore, the girls were forced to ask for food and money on the streets, and in this context, Carlos Díaz González committed lewd acts against one of them.
What additional measures were imposed in the case of Havana?
In addition to the prison sentences, Daima Rodríguez Núñez's parental rights over her daughters were suspended. Both defendants were stripped of their civil rights and prohibited from leaving the national territory as part of the additional sanctions imposed by the court.
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