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The Feminicide Observatory of YoSíTeCreo en Cuba (YSTCC) announced the cessation of its operations, marking the end of more than five years of independent monitoring of feminicide violence on the Island.
The decision, described as "inevitable" by its members, is a response to the lack of resources and the increasing human toll in a context marked by repression, censorship, and social crisis.
"The situation that began in 2020 in an inevitable manner, with rudimentary checks and no methodology, must come to an end today," the platform communicated on Facebook, where it announced the closure of this documentation and reporting space.
The observatory, which was established due to the lack of transparent official statistics on feminicides in Cuba, has faced multiple limitations since its inception. However, in recent years, these conditions have worsened to the point of making the project unsustainable.
"The platform lacks the human and material resources to continue maintaining the record of feminicides, which is becoming increasingly difficult in the Cuban context," they explained.
In addition to the precariousness, there is the emotional impact of a job that involves supporting the pain of the victims and their families.
"This type of observation represents an emotionally and mentally exhausting task, which in Cuba is compounded by the repressive conditions of activism, strong censorship, and now the humanitarian crisis," they pointed out.
The closure comes after the publication of the 2025 Annual Report, developed in collaboration with the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas (OGAT), with which YSTCC has maintained a key partnership in recent years to document and analyze gender-based violence in the country.
A network of women and allies
In their farewell message, YSTCC made a broad acknowledgment of those who supported the project from the shadows and with civic commitment.
"First of all, there are the independent observers, brave and anonymous women, who carried out the initial verifications and records on their own," they emphasized, highlighting that many of those initial data now form part of the historical archive of femicidal violence in Cuba.
They also expressed gratitude for the role of the independent press, which has been essential in bringing visibility to these crimes: "The independent Cuban press, with its resilience and pioneering work, addressed the initial alerts and historical cases… Journalists, influencers, and communicators, without you, we would not have come this far."
The organization successfully built a database and its own methodology thanks to the collective effort of a diverse network.
"Each piece of information, each call, were the grains of sand of the unique knowledge we gained about feminist violence in Cuba," they indicated.
A special acknowledgment was directed to the families of the victims: "Endless thanks... especially to the surviving families who opened their hearts to us in the toughest moments."
Regional articulation and alliances
YSTCC's work transcended national borders. In 2023, the observatory joined Latin American networks through MundoSur, which allowed it to strengthen its methodology and highlight the issues within a regional context.
"MundoSur colleagues, you help to make visible what conservative sectors in Latin America prefer to ignore: there are femicides in Cuba," they stated.
They also highlighted the partnership with Alas Tensas, a key organization in documenting gender-based violence on the Island since 2019. "Sisters from OGAT, we will miss the daily messages. We wish you all the strength to carry on."
From Alas Tensas, they replied with a message filled with acknowledgment and shared sorrow: "For more than five years we have fought together... monitoring violence against women... accompanying and denouncing to international organizations the lack of protection that we, Cuban women and girls, face under a totalitarian regime."
They also acknowledged the difficulty of continuing without that support: "It will not be easy to carry on with our mission in an increasingly violent and agonizing society without their help."
Reactions: "A huge loss"
The announcement sparked a wave of reactions of sadness, concern, and gratitude among activists, journalists, and citizens.
Social media users described the news as "terrible" and "regrettable," emphasizing the importance of the work being done. One commenter pointed out that "your work is essential in times like these," while another expressed dismay that "such valuable work is not supported and sustained."
There were also reflections on the impact that the closure will have on the visibility of gender-based violence in Cuba. "Now, how will we know the level of violence that occurs daily?" questioned an internet user, highlighting the key role the observatory played in the absence of accessible official data.
Another reaction summed up the general sentiment: "In dark times without you... there will be less light."
A closure that is not a withdrawal
Despite the closure of the observatory as a specific project, YSTCC clarified that its work does not completely come to an end.
"We're not going anywhere. We continue to stand by the victims and survivors of feminicide violence in Cuba and to fight," they affirmed in response to the messages of support.
The organization also specified that the closure affects only the observatory as a platform for systematic recording: "Only the YSTCC Femicide Observatory is closing."
To report new cases of extreme gender violence, they urged citizens to contact the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas (OGAT), which will continue this work.
The closure of the observatory leaves a significant gap in the independent monitoring of femicides in Cuba, in a context where official information remains limited and activism faces increasing obstacles.
For more than five years, YSTCC has contributed to documenting an overlooked reality, building memory, and demanding justice for victims who otherwise would have remained silent.
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