Independent platforms have reported two additional femicides in Cuba this Wednesday, raising the count to nine women who have fallen victim to gender-based violence on the island, just a little over two months into 2026.
The gender observatories of the magazine Alas Tensas (OGAT) and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) issued a joint statement mourning the deaths of Ana Yancy Guillot and Olimpia Pérez, which occurred earlier this month.
Guillot, whose age has not been disclosed, was attacked by her partner in public on March 7 in the city of Pinar del Río. She was taken to a hospital where she later died.
Guillot leaves behind an adult daughter and other relatives. OGAT and YSTCC emphasized the societal impact of femicidal violence, noting that it affects not only the victim's family but also the perpetrator's family and the community at large.
Both organizations called for no retaliations among families or vigilante justice in this case, warning that "unleashed violence can be endless."
Social Femicide Adds to the Tragedy
The other verified case is labeled a "social femicide," which took place on March 2. Olimpia Pérez, a 79-year-old woman living alone, was murdered in her home in Mendoza, Tapaste, in the province of Mayabeque.
The platforms did not provide further details on this incident, nor did they clarify whether the perpetrators in both cases have been apprehended.
In their statement, they extended condolences to the victims' families and friends while urging citizens to assist in gathering more information regarding these cases.
As of March 11, OGAT and YSTCC have recorded nine femicides, seven attempted femicides, and the murder of one man due to gender-based motives.
They continue to investigate 11 potential femicides, four attempted femicides, and one man’s murder for gender-related reasons reported in 2025, along with four potential femicides reported this year.
System Failures and Rising Violence
The rising tide of gender violence claimed the lives of at least 48 women in Cuba in 2025.
Due to the lack of effective state mechanisms, OGAT and YSTCC have taken on roles typically held by the government, such as documenting femicides and attempts, investigating cases and alerts, maintaining support lines for women at risk and their families, and raising awareness of gender-based violence.
Both independent observatories have reiterated that verifying these crimes is particularly challenging in the Cuban context. Their records represent just a fraction of the actual cases of gender violence, as the state continues to fall short of releasing comprehensive, disaggregated, and transparent data on femicides, they argue.
Furthermore, Cuba lacks a comprehensive gender violence law, and although the Penal Code mentions gender-based violence, it does not autonomously categorize femicide as a crime. The country also lacks shelters and accessible protection protocols for women and girls at risk.
Such systemic shortcomings "leave thousands of women exposed to known aggressors—partners, ex-partners, neighbors, relatives—and facilitate impunity," they insist, agreeing that the Cuban regime's response to the increasing violence against women is inadequate.
From 2019 until October 1, 2025, the observatories documented 300 femicides in Cuba.
Understanding the State of Femicides in Cuba
What are OGAT and YSTCC's roles in addressing femicides in Cuba?
OGAT and YSTCC are independent observatories that document femicides, investigate cases and alerts, provide support for women at risk, and raise awareness about gender-based violence due to the absence of effective state mechanisms.
Why is the verification of femicides challenging in Cuba?
Verification is difficult because the Cuban state does not provide comprehensive, transparent statistics on femicides, and there is a lack of legal frameworks and protection protocols to address gender violence effectively.