A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday night in Santiago de Cuba, where a woman was fatally stabbed by her former partner. The victim, identified as Dagnis Hernández Milanés, was attacked inside her home in the San Pedrito neighborhood. This information was shared by journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook, based on witness accounts.
A source familiar with the incident revealed, "The ex-husband entered through the roof of the neighboring house and began stabbing her in front of her 11-year-old son." The source further explained that Dagnis had previously accused her ex-partner several times but had also retracted these accusations. Recently, she called the police when he was assaulting her, and fortunately, they arrived in time, which is rare.
Despite being rushed to the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital and undergoing surgery, Dagnis succumbed to the severe stab wounds. The identity of the perpetrator remains undisclosed, and it is unclear if he has been apprehended.
Feminist Groups Yet to Respond
As of this report, feminist platforms have not issued statements regarding the incident, which could potentially raise the number of femicides in Cuba to 40 this year. Up to October 9th, the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba (YSTCC) reported 39 gender-based murders in 2024, alongside five attempted femicides and six cases pending police investigation. The official Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) has acknowledged that over 16,000 women and girls from 9,579 families live in violent conditions across the country.
Official Statistics and Government Response
While the FMC has noted an increase in femicides since the pandemic, it avoids using the term "feminicide," preferring "femicide" instead. Earlier in August, the regime reported that in 2023, 60 cases of gender-based murders of women aged 15 and above were tried in court. Of these, 50 women (83.3%) were killed by their partners or ex-partners, with the remainder by other aggressors, according to the Cuba Gender Equality Observatory.
Additionally, the previous year saw 378 cases of sexual violence brought to trial, with several women suffering injuries from attacks by former partners. In response, the Cuban government announced in July the establishment of a national system for registering, attending to, and monitoring incidents of gender-based violence within families, as discussed in a Council of Ministers meeting.