The recent femicide of Noralis Estenoz, a mother of three, has deeply shocked Cuba. She was murdered by her former partner on Saturday in the Versalles neighborhood of La Lisa, Havana. The distressing event took place around 3:30 a.m. when the attacker, whose name remains undisclosed, forcefully entered her home and fatally stabbed her, according to the Facebook page "La Tijera," which cited local residents.
Reports indicate that the assailant "forcefully broke into the residence and delivered a fatal stab to her chest," continuing his brutal assault after she fell to the ground. "La Tijera" also noted that the crime occurred in a building mostly inhabited by police officers, in front of Estenoz's mother, who "screamed desperately until she fainted." However, people close to the victim later denied that her mother witnessed the murder.
The attacker attempted to escape, injuring a police officer who tried to apprehend him, but was eventually subdued after being shot. Several sources claimed that the perpetrator died hours later at the hospital where he was taken.
CiberCuba reached out to the victim's family and friends for more details on the tragic incident but had not received a response at the time of publication.
The murder has left Estenoz's family, friends, and neighbors, as well as many Cubans, in shock. Social media comments have highlighted the growing violence against women in Cuba, the rise in femicides, and the authorities' ineffective response to these issues. Critics also question why these incidents are not reported by the official press and instead are learned about through social media, feminist platforms, and independent media outlets.
The killing of Noralis Estenoz is expected to raise the count of gender-based violence crimes to 34 in 2025, based on data from independent feminist organizations. The Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas magazine (OGAT) and the Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) observatory had verified 33 femicides in the country by the end of September, underscoring the severe violence crisis in Cuban society and the lack of effective protection protocols for women.
From 2019 through October 1 of this year, these platforms documented 300 femicides in Cuba, a figure that only represents an underreporting of the ongoing gender violence on the island.
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Understanding Gender Violence in Cuba
What are the main causes of rising gender violence in Cuba?
The increase in gender violence in Cuba can be attributed to a combination of social, cultural, and economic factors, including the lack of effective legal protection for women, societal norms that perpetuate machismo, and insufficient action from authorities.
How are independent organizations helping to address this issue?
Independent organizations like OGAT and YSTCC are critical in documenting cases of femicide and raising awareness about gender violence. They provide support to victims, advocate for policy changes, and challenge the government's inaction.
What can be done to improve the situation for women in Cuba?
Improving the situation for women in Cuba requires comprehensive legal reforms to protect victims, increased public awareness campaigns, better support systems for survivors, and stronger enforcement of laws against gender-based violence.