The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) activated the #AlertaMayde on Saturday, July 18, concerning the disappearance of 13-year-old Melodys Cabrera Ricardo, who lives in Vereda Nueva, Caimito municipality, Artemisa. She has been missing since July 4.
Her father, Ismael Cabrera, made a heartfelt plea on social media when his daughter had been missing for 15 days.
"My daughter has been missing for 15 days. If anyone sees her, please call me at 54639066. I am desperate. Her name is Melodys, she is 13 years old and from Vereda Nueva, Caimito, Artemisa. Please share," he stated.
The search notice shared by Alas Tensas on Facebook indicates that the family has already reported her disappearance to the Cuban police, but as of the alert's date, no significant progress has been made.
Melodys is described as having a fair complexion with a unique feature: "a red birthmark above one eyelid," according to relatives who commented on the post, urging anyone who sees her to contact her father or alert the authorities.
Those with information regarding the girl's whereabouts can reach the family at 54639066 or email the observatory at observatorio@alastensas.com.
Lack of Rapid Response System for Missing Minors Highlighted
This case underscores, once again, the lack of a state-operated rapid alert system for missing children in Cuba, akin to the AMBER Alert system used in the United States and other countries.
In response to this institutional gap, the feminist platform YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and OGAT established #AlertaMayde as a grassroots alternative, disseminating search notices primarily via social media.
The alert's name honors Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez, a 16-year-old girl who went missing on May 30, 2021, in Central Havana, whose whereabouts remain unknown over five years later.
Disappearance Statistics and Legislative Gaps
The OGAT's annual report released in April documented 40 disappearances of women, girls, and boys in Cuba during 2025, with 12 - or 30% - being minors: ten girls or adolescents and two boys.
Among these 40 cases, 26 individuals were found alive, six were found deceased - four of them in instances of femicide - and eight were still missing at the report's conclusion.
The same report criticizes the current Cuban legislation for only safeguarding the property of missing individuals, lacking effective search mechanisms and comprehensive family support, while the regime's information blackout exacerbates the issue.
Current Situation in Caimito
Throughout this year, multiple cases of missing minors have been reported across various provinces, all sharing the common thread of inadequate response from authorities and families relying heavily on independent civil organizations to spread alerts.
Caimito, Melodys' home municipality, has also been severely affected by power outages, food shortages, and a lack of medical professionals. Alas Tensas noted in April 2026 that these conditions directly contribute to the vulnerability of women and girls in Cuba.
Understanding the Disappearance of Melodys Cabrera
What is #AlertaMayde?
#AlertaMayde is a citizen-led alert system created by YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and OGAT to address the absence of a state-operated rapid response system for missing minors in Cuba. It primarily uses social media to spread awareness of disappearances.
How can someone help find Melodys Cabrera?
Anyone with information on Melodys Cabrera's whereabouts is urged to contact her family at 54639066 or email the Alas Tensas observatory at observatorio@alastensas.com.
What challenges do families face in finding missing children in Cuba?
Families in Cuba face challenges such as a lack of state-operated alert systems, ineffective search mechanisms, and limited government support. They often rely on independent civil organizations to disseminate alerts and information.