The tragic murder of a young Cuban mother, whose baby is just five months old, occurred this Tuesday in Arroyo Naranjo, Havana. This incident marks the third feminicide in May, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Cuba to 23 for the year 2026, according to the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT).
At just 32 years old, Kirenia Casi Álvarez was brutally attacked early on the morning of May 12 by her ex-partner, who is also the father of her baby. The assault happened in the open street of the Párraga neighborhood, and she later succumbed to her injuries in the operating room of the Julio Trigo López Hospital, where she had been urgently taken.
Community members attempted to intervene to stop the attack, with one individual sustaining injuries in the process, as confirmed by OGAT. Kirenia leaves behind her infant and a six-year-old son from a previous relationship.
This devastating event makes Kirenia the third nursing mother to fall victim to feminicide in Cuba this year. The observatory expressed deep sorrow over her untimely death and emphasized that her young daughter is now in a particularly precarious situation, even affecting her health. In April, two other mothers of infants were also murdered by their former partners: Marina (Marian) Pino Martínez in Matanzas and Mariolis López Silio in Mayabeque.
According to reports shared on social media by content creator Niover Licea (Nio reporting a crime), Kirenia's attacker was identified as Fabián Pedroso, known locally as "El Pata" and "El Babalao," who neighbors say worked as a baker.
As of May 13, OGAT has documented 17 attempted feminicides and one gender-based murder of a man. They are also investigating 12 potential feminicides, five attempts, and one gender-based murder of a man reported in 2025, alongside eight potential feminicides and two attempts reported in 2026.
Just four days prior to Kirenia's murder, on May 8, Yurelis Puente Naranjo, aged 44, was killed by her ex-husband in Abreus, Cienfuegos. On the first day of May, Gloria Almanza Céspedes, a 52-year-old teacher, was murdered in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, despite having previously reported her aggressor to the police without receiving effective protection.
April was marked as the most violent month of the year, with at least seven cases, including a double feminicide in Batabanó, Mayabeque: Rosalí Peña Hernández, aged 31, and her 12-year-old daughter Camila Aguilera Peña, were murdered by Rosalí's partner on April 22.
The consistent pattern noted by OGAT reveals that 83.3% of feminicides in Cuba are committed by the victim's partner or ex-partner, 62.5% occur in her home, and 64.6% are carried out with sharp weapons.
The Cuban government does not release official statistics on these crimes. The current Penal Code, in force since 2022, does not classify feminicide as a separate offense, and the island lacks comprehensive gender violence laws, shelters for at-risk women, and effective protection protocols.
Since the closure of the Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba observatory in April, OGAT remains the sole independent organization systematically monitoring these crimes on the island.
Between 2019 and 2025, both organizations documented a total of 315 feminicides in Cuba.
Examining the Rise of Feminicides in Cuba
What is the current situation regarding feminicides in Cuba?
As of 2026, there have been 23 confirmed feminicides in Cuba, with a noticeable increase in cases this year. The Cuban government does not provide official statistics, and the current legal framework does not recognize feminicide as an independent crime.
Who is responsible for monitoring feminicides in Cuba?
The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) is currently the only independent organization systematically monitoring feminicides in Cuba, following the closure of the Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba observatory.
What challenges do Cuban women face regarding gender-based violence?
Cuban women face significant challenges, including the lack of a comprehensive gender violence law, insufficient shelters for those at risk, and ineffective protection protocols. The majority of feminicides are committed by partners or ex-partners, often in the victim's home.