In a shocking incident on Monday morning, a Cuban mother was brutally stabbed to death by her former partner in broad daylight on a street in Havana's Cerro district, according to social media reports. The victim, identified as Dianelis Veloz Hernández, had just dropped off her children at "Reinel Páez" Primary School, located at the intersection of Calzada de Buenos Aires and Consejero Arango, when she was confronted by her ex-partner, as reported by La Tijera on Facebook, citing family sources.
The confrontation escalated into a heated argument, during which the man attacked her with multiple stab wounds, one targeted at her neck. Witnesses of this horrific act reported that the altercation was over money, with Veloz claiming she had it at home. In a deceitful move, the assailant appeared to embrace her before delivering the fatal stab. The attacker, identified by the victim's family as Johnny González, was taken to a hospital for emergency surgery, though the specific location remains undisclosed.
Further details from the social media commentary revealed that González attempted self-harm following the femicide, leading to his hospitalization. Friends and family of Dianelis have expressed their grief on social media, lamenting the tragedy that leaves her children orphaned. As of this report, feminist platforms have yet to officially confirm this incident as the 44th verified femicide of the year.
Rising Tide of Violence Against Women in Cuba
On October 28, the Gender Observatory Alas Tensas (OGAT) and YoSíTeCreo in Cuba (YSTCC) confirmed another street femicide that took place in Santiago de Cuba on October 24. Just last week, Tamara Carreras Martínez, a 57-year-old employee of the University of Oriente, was fatally attacked by her partner in central Santiago de Cuba. Bystanders intervened, assaulting the perpetrator, who was later hospitalized and arrested.
Recent data compiled by observatories indicate that, as of October 28, this year has seen 43 confirmed femicides, five attempted femicides, six cases pending police investigation, and two gender-motivated murders of men. Investigations continue into suspected femicides in Las Tunas, Matanzas, Camagüey, and Guantánamo.
Lack of Legal Framework and Government Response
In August, the Cuban regime disclosed that 60 gender-related murders of women aged 15 and above were prosecuted this year, with 50 victims (83.3%) killed by current or former partners, according to the Observatory of Gender Equality in Cuba. Additionally, 378 cases of sexual violence were tried, with numerous women suffering injuries from their ex-partners' attacks.
Despite the alarming statistics, Cuban law does not recognize femicide as a distinct crime, nor does it employ terms like "femicide" or "gender-based violence." The government has taken some steps, such as the creation of a national system in July to register, address, and monitor gender violence within families. The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) acknowledges that over 16,000 women and girls from 9,579 families are living under violent conditions throughout the country.