On December 7, 2025, Elianne Reyes Gómez, a 26-year-old Cuban woman, was tragically killed, allegedly by her partner, in her home in Madruga, a municipality in the province of Mayabeque. She leaves behind a young daughter, now under the care of relatives. This crime has been confirmed by the Observatory of Gender Affairs of Alas Tensas (OGAT) and the platform Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) following a thorough community verification process.
The organizations expressed their sorrow, stating, "We mourn yet another femicide in Cuba, the young Elianne Reyes Gómez, who was killed by her partner on December 7 in her home in Madruga, Mayabeque. Our condolences go out to her surviving young daughter, her family, and loved ones."
Typically, initial clues in such cases emerge from citizen reports, activist publications, or independent media outlets. OGAT and YSTCC's verification efforts aim to fill the gap left by the lack of transparent official statistics, a major barrier to preventing and achieving justice for gender violence on the island.
Alarming Figures Reveal a Silent Crisis
With Elianne's murder, feminist organizations have officially recorded 44 femicides in Cuba in 2025 alone, alongside the following statistics:
- One murder of a man due to gender-based reasons
- 16 attempted femicides
- Three cases under police investigation that remain unsolved
New alerts are being investigated in Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Camagüey, Artemisa, Villa Clara, and Granma, where community networks compensate for the lack of a state monitoring and prevention system.
Elianne and the Pattern of Domestic Violence
The murder of Elianne underscores recurring trends previously identified in the OGAT–YSTCC 2024 Report. These include:
- 76.8% of femicides occurred among women aged 15 to 45
- 55.4% took place within the home
- 17 victims were between 15 and 30 years old
Elianne's case fits these characteristics: she was young, killed by her partner, and the crime occurred in her own home—an intimate space that became a scene of lethal violence in a country lacking comprehensive gender violence laws and effective protection mechanisms.
Devastating Sequence: Three Femicides in Eight Days
Her death was not an isolated incident. In just eight days, three women were killed by their partners in different provinces:
- November 30: Rosa Idania Ferrer Pérez (46) was murdered by her partner in Palmira, Cienfuegos.
- December 5: Heidi García Orosco (17) was stabbed by her boyfriend at home in Jovellanos, Matanzas.
- December 7: Elianne Reyes Gómez (26) was killed by her partner in Madruga, Mayabeque.
Three lives lost, three families devastated, all sharing the common factor of domestic partner violence in the absence of state prevention and protection protocols.
Insights from Social Media: What Witnesses and Local Media Report
Before the official confirmation by OGAT and YSTCC, crime reporter Niover Licea had reported the femicide through social media channels. Initially, the victim was misidentified as "Estefany Reyes Gómez"—the name she used on social media—but it was later confirmed to be Elianne Reyes Gómez, as indicated by feminist platforms.
According to preliminary reports, the murder took place at Elianne's home in El Matadero neighborhood, Madruga. The alleged perpetrator, her husband Yunior, had reportedly been recently released from prison, according to local testimonies. Disturbingly, Elianne's mother was in the house during the crime but did not hear anything due to loud music playing.
A Country Without Laws, Shelters, or Protocols
Feminist organizations stress that structural impunity fuels this chain of crimes. In Cuba, there is no:
- Comprehensive gender violence law
- Shelters for women at risk
- Public preventive action protocols
- Reliable and transparent official data
- Prevention policies with a gender focus
Faced with this scenario, the observatories reiterate their message: "Reporting these crimes is not a crime itself; it's an essential act to defend the lives and dignity of women and girls in Cuba." They add, "Making each case visible is also a form of justice."
For years, these organizations have warned that Cuba lacks a comprehensive law against gender violence, state shelters for women at risk, and sufficient institutional guarantees for their protection. They continue to emphasize the urgency of bringing each crime to light and strengthening citizen reporting.
Understanding the Gender Violence Crisis in Cuba
What are the main challenges in addressing gender violence in Cuba?
The lack of a comprehensive gender violence law, absence of shelters for at-risk women, and insufficient public prevention protocols are key challenges. Additionally, there is a significant gap in reliable and transparent official data.
How do organizations like OGAT and YSTCC contribute to addressing this issue?
These organizations fill the void left by the state by verifying cases, raising awareness, and advocating for changes in policy to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
What recent incidents highlight the severity of femicide in Cuba?
In a span of eight days, three women were murdered by their partners, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention and protection measures in the country.