The Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas (OGAT) made a public appeal on Wednesday seeking information regarding the violent death of a woman known as "La China," which took place on July 14 in Paso Real de San Diego, located in the Los Palacios municipality of Pinar del Río Province.
Initial data collected by the organization suggests that the woman may have been killed by her partner.
The deceased was a mother of three adult children, and her full name is believed to be Ana Luisa Baños González, although OGAT is still working to verify this information.
"We are requesting assistance to confirm her full name and age, the identity of the alleged perpetrator, the precise nature of their relationship, and any possible history of violence," the organization stated in their announcement.
Alas Tensas emphasized the necessity of accurately documenting each incident: "Gathering truthful and comprehensive data is crucial for documenting femicides, identifying patterns of violence, and preventing these crimes from being overlooked."
Anyone with information concerning the case of "La China" is encouraged to reach out to OGAT via their social media channels, email at observatorio@alastensas.com, or through the anonymous form available on their website.
Rising Violence Against Women in Cuba
This call to clarify the potential femicide comes amidst a significant surge in violence against women, as recorded by OGAT in 2026.
As of July 27, the organization had recorded 44 femicides in Cuba for the year, compared to 18 in the same timeframe in 2025, marking a staggering rise of approximately 144.4%.
The observatory's data indicates that the predominant pattern is intimate partner femicide: 83.3% of the cases studied were committed by current or former partners, with 64.6% involving the use of bladed weapons.
In its report dated July 16, OGAT also noted 19 attempted femicides and two murders of men within the context of feminicidal violence. Additionally, they were investigating 11 possible femicides and four reported attempts during 2026.
Since initiating its monitoring in 2019 up to July 27 of this year, OGAT has documented a total of 359 femicides in Cuba.
Following the closure of the "Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba" Femicide Observatory in April 2026, OGAT remains the sole independent active observatory conducting this systematic monitoring in the absence of detailed official statistics from the Cuban government.
Understanding the Increase in Femicides in Cuba
What is the role of OGAT in documenting femicides?
OGAT plays a crucial role in documenting femicides in Cuba by collecting and analyzing data to identify patterns of violence and ensure these crimes are not overlooked.
How has the rate of femicides changed in recent years in Cuba?
The rate of femicides in Cuba has seen a significant increase, with 44 cases recorded in 2026 compared to 18 in the same period of 2025, indicating a rise of approximately 144.4%.
What challenges does OGAT face in its work?
OGAT faces challenges such as the lack of detailed official statistics from the Cuban government, requiring them to rely on independent monitoring and public cooperation for data collection.