The Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas (OGAT) confirmed a new femicide in Cuba in the last few hours, raising the number of verified cases to 42 so far in 2026.
Yeni María Peñas Leyva, 23 years old, was attacked by her ex-partner during the night of July 13th in front of her home, in the La Fabela neighborhood, at kilometer 2.5, in the suburban area of the municipality of Las Tunas.
OGAT reported, based on sources close to the case, that the young woman was pregnant when the assault occurred. Yeni María is survived by a young girl and a young boy.
What the OGAT confirmed
The observatory summarized the tragedy with a phrase that reflects the alarm over the rise of gender-based violence on the Island: "They are killing us."
The organization stated that following the assault, Yeni María was urgently transferred to a hospital, where she passed away.
He also extended his condolences to the victim's children, family, and colleagues, who expressed their sorrow on social media.
The observatory also issued a public call:
"We ask for the support of the public to complete information regarding this tragic event, which is being used for registration purposes," stated the organization, which reminded that "reporting these crimes is not a offense."
OGAT emphasized that this would be the first femicide of a pregnant woman recorded by the organization in Cuba since June 5, 2024, when the death of Katia Ortiz Figueredo was confirmed, also in Las Tunas.
"Since June 5, 2024, the Alas Tensas Observatory had not recorded in Cuba the feminicide of a pregnant woman. The previous case was that of Katia Ortiz Figueredo, who was also murdered in the municipality of Las Tunas," explained Ileana Álvarez, director of OGAT.
Katia Ortiz Figueredo, 25 years old, was held for five days, assaulted, and murdered by her ex-partner. The young woman left behind two young daughters.
The responsible party was sentenced to 28 years in prison in June 2025.
Other unconfirmed details
The independent platform NiO Reporting a Crime, led by crime reporter Niover Licea, provided additional details that have not been officially confirmed by OGAT or the Cuban authorities.
According to that source, the young woman “suffered an assault with a sharp object that caused a penetrating wound in the chest, lung injuries, massive bleeding, and a hemothorax”.
The platform reported that Yeni María was urgently moved to a hospital and later passed away in the intensive care unit, despite medical efforts.
NiO Reporting a Crime identified the alleged perpetrator as José Luis Tamayo, who remains at large from the authorities.
The platform itself clarified that "this information is still under verification and has not been officially confirmed by the authorities."
A devastating July and a number that keeps rising
The murder of Yeni María Peñas Leyva is the fifth confirmed femicide in Cuba during the first two weeks of July.
During that period, the deaths of the following were also verified:
- Dayana Borges, 26 years old, in Centro Habana.
- Yolexis Virgen Arias Oroceno, 54 years old, in Camagüey.
- Yunierkis Gómez Lozano, 43 years old, in Cumanayagua, Cienfuegos.
- Yesneidy López Hernández, 39 years old, in Güines, Mayabeque.
With data updated until July 15, the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas has confirmed a total of 42 feminicides, 19 attempts of feminicide, and two male homicides in the context of feminicide violence during 2026.
The organization is also investigating 12 possible femicides, five attempted femicides, and one murder of a man for gender-related reasons corresponding to alerts received during 2025.
The observatory explained that the lack of access to police and judicial documents makes it difficult to verify numerous cases. Among them is the case of Anais Tamayo Puente, for which OGAT requested access to the investigation report.
The organization reiterated that citizen collaboration is essential to complete the records and determine whether the reported facts meet their verification criteria.
Femicides increased by 325% between May and June
Ileana Álvarez warned that the figures indicate an alarming increase in femicide violence in Cuba.
During May and June of 2025, OGAT verified four femicides, while in the same months of 2026, it confirmed 17.
The difference represents an increase of 325 %, according to the balance disclosed by the organization.
In May 2025, the observatory recorded one femicide, compared to eight in the same month of 2026, which represents an increase of 700%.
In June, cases rose from three in 2025 to nine in 2026, an increase of 200%.
Las Tunas has recorded at least four femicides in 2026, including that of Katherine Cruz Aguilera, aged 14, confirmed in March.
Since 2019, independent observers have documented 350 femicides in Cuba, with a peak of 90 cases recorded in 2023.
OGAT criticizes the actions of the Federation of Cuban Women
In light of the increase in cases, Ileana Álvarez questioned why the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the only women's organization authorized by the regime, uses its social media to criticize families participating in protests with their children, rather than focusing on the rise in gender-based violence.
"This escalation of feminicide occurs while the Federation of Cuban Women, the only women’s organization permitted by the state, uses its social media not to address the increase in gender violence in Cuba, but to challenge families who are protesting with their children against the profound crisis the country is experiencing. They don’t even allow women to protest the situation that families in general are facing in Cuba," she stated.
The director of OGAT stated that the protection of children should not be used as an argument to discourage or discredit citizen protests.
He also called for a public response focused on preventing violence and protecting victims.
"True protection for women, girls, and boys requires effective public policies, shelters for those in danger, prevention mechanisms, transparent data, and concrete actions against aggressors," Álvarez stated.
They demand the declaration of a state of emergency due to gender violence
OGAT reiterated its demand for a state of emergency to be declared due to gender-based violence in Cuba and warned that these crimes cannot be reduced to isolated incidents or mere personal conflicts.
"We reiterate to the public that reporting these crimes is not a crime; it does not constitute any offense, and we are not facing isolated incidents or mere personal conflicts. We are witnessing an escalation of femicide violence in Cuba that necessitates the declaration of a state of emergency. Not one less," concluded the director of the observatory.
The Cuban regime does not publish systematic and transparent statistics on gender-based violence. Furthermore, femicide is not classified as an independent crime in the current Penal Code; instead, it is treated as an aggravating circumstance of homicide.
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