Teresa Amarelle Boué, the general secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) and a member of the Communist Party of Cuba's Political Bureau, acknowledged in a social media post on July 11 that the Cuban crisis disproportionately impacts women.
Despite this acknowledgment, Amarelle Boué stayed true to her role in social control and repression of dissent. She used her platform to warn families of the potential consequences if they protest alongside their children, which independent organizations have deemed a veiled threat.
The message, shared on the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests, blamed the shortages on the U.S. embargo—referred to by the FMC as a "genocidal blockade"—but also conceded that "not everything can be explained by this external aggression."
The most controversial part of her statement cautioned that "our children should not be exposed to actions that often constitute crimes and become aggressive," directly referencing the citizen protests, which in June 2026 reached a historic peak with 107 demonstrations across the country.
Women’s Rights and the FMC’s Role
Amarelle Boué further stated that "children and adolescents have the right to be protected, to grow in safe environments, without being used as a shield or protest tool," a claim that the independent feminist organization Alas Tensas systematically refuted this Wednesday.
"While the Federation of Cuban Women, the only women's organization allowed in Cuba, uses its social media to threaten families protesting alongside their children over the country's deepening crisis, violence against women continues to claim lives in Cuba," Alas Tensas remarked on their social media platform X.
The feminist platform, operating from exile and maintaining the Gender Observatory (OGAT), presented statistics that challenge the FMC's protective narrative: 41 femicides have been documented in Cuba so far in 2026, according to OGAT's records.
Stark Realities: The Contrast in Numbers
The comparison between May and June of 2025 and the same period in 2026 is particularly troubling: cases rose from four to 17, marking a 325% increase. In May 2026, eight femicides were recorded compared to one in May 2025; in June, nine compared to three.
Alas Tensas highlights the systemic contradiction: the FMC is not a civil society organization but a state-created entity from 1960, acting as a conduit for the Communist Party to the female population.
Even Amarelle Boué, who herself is part of the PCC's Political Bureau, declared in February 2026 that Cuba is neither a failed state nor collapsing, despite documented humanitarian crises.
Response to Protests: A Grim Picture
In response to the protests, the regime has conducted 1,949 repressive actions in the first half of 2026, including the detention of at least six minors in June, and threats to mothers of losing custody of their children if they continued protesting, as reported by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH).
Last June, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) awarded the FMC for its work on gender equality and protection of women, an act that drew heavy criticism from activists who argue that the organization does not provide transparent femicide records nor report gender-based violence in real time.
Alas Tensas was clear in their conclusion: "Using the discourse of child protection to discourage citizen protest does not replace the state's responsibility to ensure women's right to live free from violence."
Impact of FMC's Actions on Cuban Society
What is the role of the Federation of Cuban Women?
The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) is a state-created entity that acts as a channel for the Communist Party, focusing on social control and the repression of dissent among the female population in Cuba.
How has the FMC responded to the protests in Cuba?
The FMC has issued warnings to families about the consequences of protesting with their children, which independent organizations view as veiled threats. The regime has responded with numerous repressive actions against protesters.
Why has the FMC been criticized by feminist organizations?
Feminist organizations criticize the FMC for its lack of transparency in reporting femicides and failing to address gender-based violence effectively, while using protective rhetoric to discourage protests.