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Text: Fede Gayardo
Three new sexist murders in Cuba were reported this weekend, raising the number of femicides to 28 so far this year on the island.
The independent platforms Yo Sí Te Creo and Alas Tensas announced that the first of the three victims is named Liset Quesada Romero, 33 years old, who was murdered by her partner last Friday, June 14 in Bejucal, province of Mayabeque.
Then, on Saturday the 15th, the second feminicide took place. In this case, the victim was identified as Jessica Castillo, 32 years old and a native of the province of Pinar del Río.
Castillo was murdered, according to the Cuban activists, by her partner, who was on parole after being sanctioned for a history of feminicidal violence.
The last of these crimes was that of Alba Delia Sánchez Benítez, 58, murdered by her ex-partner last Sunday, June 16, in the student residence where she worked in Havana.
Last week, Yo Sí Te Creo and Alas Tensas reported two more sexist murders, rising to 25 so far this year. Now with these three, the sum reaches 28.
Just six days ago, both independent groups announced two sexist murders, bringing the total to 25 so far this year.
Katia Ortiz, 25, was “murdered on a public street by her ex-partner in the eastern city of Las Tunas,” while Cindy Samanthy González, 32, “hid from her perpetrator—her ex-partner—at a friend’s house. ” in San Miguel del Padrón, where he ended up murdering her on May 18.
Digital platforms counted at least 220 femicides in Cuba between 2019 and 2023. The highest number of these crimes was reached last year, when 89 women died due to sexist violence on the island.
The Cuban Penal Code, approved in May 2022, does not recognize feminicide as a crime, although it does make it clear that any form of violence is a crime and classifies murder as a major crime, with varying degrees of aggravating factors.
