In a tragic incident in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, Gloria Almanza Céspedes, a 52-year-old teacher, was murdered by her former partner on May 1. This horrific act brings the total count of femicides in Cuba for 2026 to 21, as documented by the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT).
Gloria, a mother to two young adult daughters, was killed in her home in Los Mangos neighborhood. Her death highlights a disturbing trend that has emerged this year: despite having previously reported her abuser to the police, no protective measures were taken.
The OGAT emphasized the lack of preventive action by the police, stating, "Once again, the failure of police intervention is evident, as the perpetrator had been previously reported by the victim."
Known as a dedicated educator and active church member, Gloria's murder has shocked her community.
The independent observatory has sounded the alarm on the rise of attempted femicides, with 17 incidents recorded since the start of the year—an "alarming figure." It also highlighted the "painful" case of Anais Tamayo Puente, a teenager whose unclear death requires further investigation.
As of May 4, OGAT has verified 21 femicides, 17 attempted femicides, and one gender-related murder of a man in 2026. Additionally, it is investigating 12 potential femicides reported in 2025 and six in 2026.
Gloria Almanza's murder came just a week after Mariolis López Silio, a 37-year-old mother of four, was killed by her ex-partner, Michael Pérez Sanabria, on April 24 in Güines, Mayabeque.
The month of April marked a peak in violence with at least seven femicides. On April 13, Yunia Lisset Bizet Sánchez was murdered on her way to report her aggressor to the police in Bayamo, Granma. A week later, a double femicide shocked Batabanó, Mayabeque, claiming the lives of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter.
The Cuban government's response to the escalating violence against women has been severely lacking. The regime has yet to enact comprehensive gender violence legislation, and the 2022 Penal Code does not recognize femicide as a separate offense, only as an aggravating circumstance. Official statistics on these crimes are not published, and there are no effective shelters or protection protocols for at-risk women in the nation.
On April 25, the Cuban Foreign Ministry asserted that "there is and will be no impunity for gender-based violence in Cuba." However, this statement starkly contrasts with the growing number of femicides reported by independent organizations and media, alongside the legal and institutional void concerning these crimes.
In 2025, OGAT confirmed 48 femicides in Cuba, with 83.3% committed by partners or ex-partners. Since 2019, the observatory has verified over 300 gender violence-related murders in the country.
Understanding the Rise in Femicides in Cuba
What is the current situation of femicides in Cuba?
As of 2026, Cuba has reported 21 confirmed femicides according to the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory. This reflects a worrying increase in violence against women, with many victims previously reporting their aggressors without receiving adequate protection.
How has the Cuban government responded to the increase in femicides?
The Cuban government's response has been criticized as insufficient. There is no comprehensive gender violence law, and femicide is not recognized as an independent crime in the Penal Code. Furthermore, no official statistics are released, and there are no effective protective measures for women at risk.
What measures are being suggested to tackle femicides in Cuba?
Advocates and organizations are calling for the Cuban government to implement comprehensive gender violence legislation, establish refuge centers, enforce protective protocols, and recognize femicide as a separate criminal offense to improve the safety and protection of women.