Once again, Cuba is shaken by the tragic news of two recent femicides, as confirmed by the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC). These incidents bring the total number of femicides to 33 in 2025, highlighting the persistent crisis of violence and the lack of effective protection protocols, as reported on the social media platform X.
The first incident occurred on September 26 in Torriente, Jagüey Grande (Matanzas), where 35-year-old Yamila Zayas Toledo was murdered in her home by her ex-partner. Tragically, just a day prior, she had filed a formal complaint with the local police, but her plea for help was ignored, leaving the aggressor free to act. Yamila leaves behind three children, two of whom are minors, and her youngest daughter witnessed the horrific crime.
In the second case, Dayli Acosta Oceguera, aged 24, fell victim to social femicide. She had been missing since September 22, and her body was discovered on September 26 in Parque Lenin, Havana. She was the mother of three young girls.
These appalling acts add to a troubling underreporting of gender-based violence, which also includes the murder of a man for gender-related reasons, three attempted femicides, and three ongoing investigations in Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara, and Camagüey.
Raising Awareness and Demand for Action
Activists emphasize that reporting such incidents is not a crime and urge citizens to work with feminist observatories to highlight and combat this structural violence that the Cuban state continues to neglect.
Understanding the Gender-Based Violence Crisis in Cuba
How many femicides have been reported in Cuba in 2025?
As of now, there have been 33 reported femicides in Cuba in 2025.
What actions are activists urging the public to take?
Activists are calling on the public to report incidents of gender-based violence and collaborate with feminist observatories to raise awareness and combat structural violence.
What challenges are faced in addressing gender-based violence in Cuba?
Cuba struggles with a lack of effective protection protocols and a persistent crisis of violence, exacerbated by underreporting and inadequate state response.