The remains of Marili Reina Fajardo, aged 45, were discovered on Wednesday, October 21, in Brisas del Mar, Eastern Havana. The body showed evidence of severe violence and sexual assault, as reported by the Observatorio de Género de Alas Tensas (OGAT) this Monday.
The victim had departed from her home in La Lima, Guanabo, that morning to work as a housekeeper. Tragically, she never reached her workplace.
OGAT has categorized this incident as a femicide due to the combination of factors involved: prior disappearance, signs of extreme violence, and a history suggesting misogynistic bias. "Given the circumstances of her disappearance, the nature of the crime marked by severe violence, and past experiences indicating a misogynistic bias, this qualifies as a femicide," stated the organization, noting that the case will remain under scrutiny as the police investigation progresses.
As of the article's publication, authorities have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects.
Marili leaves behind a young son and two adult daughters who are mourning her loss on social media.
This tragic event marks the 60th femicide in Cuba for 2026, as OGAT reports, alongside 38 attempted femicides and two murders of men connected to gender-based violence.
Marili's case comes just days after the 58th and 59th femicides. The 58th victim was Yudiley Rodríguez Enríquez, known as "Mimí," aged 37, who was murdered on October 20 in Gibara, Holguín, in front of her daughters, including a four-year-old. The 59th was Ana Vivian Suárez Cruz, 21, confirmed by OGAT on October 23 following her death in La Palma, Pinar del Río.
The pace of 2026 is the highest recorded by the organization since monitoring began in 2019. From January to July, 44 cases have been documented, compared to 18 during the same period in 2025, marking an increase of approximately 112%. June and July were the deadliest months, each with nine murders.
OGAT data from January to August 2026 highlights a disturbing pattern: 75.5% of victims were killed by their partner or ex-partner, 64.6% of the crimes involved a knife, and 62.5% occurred at or near the victim's home.
Cuba's legal system does not recognize femicide as an independent crime in its Penal Code. In 2022, the National Assembly rejected a proposal to include it, and the country lacks comprehensive gender violence legislation and systematic official statistics on these crimes. In response to criticism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared in April 2026 that "there is and will be no impunity" for gender violence in Cuba, citing the Constitution and existing laws.
Since the start of its monitoring, Alas Tensas has documented over 366 femicides in Cuba, a figure the Cuban government has neither acknowledged nor officially recorded.
Understanding Femicide and Gender Violence in Cuba
What factors contribute to a case being classified as femicide by OGAT?
OGAT classifies a case as femicide based on factors like prior disappearance, signs of extreme violence, and historical evidence of misogynistic bias.
Why is there no specific law for femicide in Cuba?
Cuba does not have a distinct law for femicide as it is not classified as an independent crime in the Penal Code. The proposal to include it was rejected by the National Assembly in 2022.
How does the current rate of femicides in 2026 compare to previous years?
The rate of femicides in 2026 is the highest recorded since OGAT began monitoring in 2019, with a significant increase of approximately 112% compared to the same period in 2025.