The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) has confirmed the tragic murder of Bertha Veitia López, a 64-year-old woman whose body was discovered in a banana plantation in Nuevitas, Camagüey. Her death, which occurred on August 26, is believed to have been caused by someone she knew.
According to a report shared on Facebook, Bertha's body was found under circumstances described by the observatory as exhibiting "extreme cruelty and misogyny." This grim discovery was shared as a warning to the public.
The individual responsible for this heinous act has been apprehended.
Bertha is fondly remembered in her community for her kindness and her work as an aide at the local hospital in Nuevitas.
Community Mourning and Condolences
Alas Tensas extended heartfelt condolences to Bertha's sister, her son, and the many individuals who cherished her.
Increasing Concerns Over Gender-Based Violence
This marks the first publicly documented femicide in Nuevitas for the current year, according to the organization's record of femicides in Cuba.
The note also highlighted the murder of Yadelaine Roque Torres, aged 25, on September 4 in the rural area of Sabana, La Caoba, near El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba. This case was reported by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
Further details from Alas Tensas reveal that Yadelaine's attacker escaped from a nearby prison and assaulted her at her doorstep.
The assailant, identified as Yorgelis Vidal Ayarde, 24, attacked her with a knife. Tragically, he was found deceased hours later on the Marimón bridge in the José Martí district of Santiago de Cuba, having taken his own life.
Yadelaine, a mother to a nearly five-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, was rushed to the Ambrosio Grillo Hospital in El Cobre but succumbed to her wounds.
Alarming Statistics and Lack of Legal Protection
With these incidents, OGAT's count of femicides in Cuba for this year reaches 50, alongside 21 attempted femicides and two male murders related to gender violence.
The 47th and 48th femicides involved Dr. Yanelkys Alonso Valdés and her mother, Lenia Valdés Amador, both victims of a single attack in Güines, Mayabeque, at the end of August.
Cuba lacks comprehensive gender violence legislation, and femicide is not classified as a distinct crime in the current Penal Code, where it is only considered an aggravating factor of homicide.
An official report from the Cuban Observatory on Gender Equality, published in August, disclosed that in 2025, there were 49 cases of women murdered for gender-related reasons. Of these, 46.9% were killed by their former partners, and 89.7% of the crimes occurred at home.
Understanding the Rise of Femicide in Cuba
What is the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory?
The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory is an organization focused on monitoring and reporting gender-based violence and femicides in Cuba.
How does Cuba's legal system address femicide?
Cuba's legal system does not currently recognize femicide as a separate crime; it is treated as an aggravating factor in homicide cases. The country lacks comprehensive gender violence laws.
What were the circumstances surrounding Yadelaine Roque Torres's murder?
Yadelaine Roque Torres was murdered by an escaped prisoner named Yorgelis Vidal Ayarde, who attacked her with a knife at her home's entrance. He later took his own life.