Femicide number 53 in Cuba: Cuban woman murdered during blackout in Havana
Yusinay Capetillo Martínez, 41, was allegedly murdered by her ex-son-in-law in Santos Suárez. OGAT raises verified femicides in Cuba to 53 in 2026.
Murder during blackout in Havana brings femicides in Cuba to 53 in 2026
The Gender Observatory Alas Tensas (OGAT) verified femicide number 53 in Cuba by registering the death of Yusinay Capetillo Martínez, 41, allegedly attacked by her ex-son-in-law during a blackout in the Santos Suárez neighbourhood, municipality of Diez de Octubre, on 19 September. This was reported by martinoticias.com, which covered the organisation's statement and declarations from its specialists.
The victim, known as Yusy, leaves three adult daughters. At the time of publication, the alleged perpetrator remained at large several days after the crime, according to the latest available information from the Observatory.
OGAT warned of the danger this situation represents for a daughter and granddaughter of Capetillo Martínez, who have links with the suspect.
Institutional silence and lack of public information
Yanelis Núñez, gender specialist at OGAT, denounced the absence of public information about the case and questioned the response of the institutions responsible for protecting women.
"There is no public information on this matter," Núñez stated, criticising the lack of police reports and press coverage of these violent incidents and the search for their alleged perpetrators.
The specialist also described other systemic deficiencies in police conduct: delays in receiving complaints, refusals to accept reports from women who are threatened or assaulted, and lack of follow-up on individuals with restraining orders.
Núñez contrasted these shortcomings with the resources that authorities devote to political surveillance.
"They have all the resources to monitor through social networks, to see who protests, who questions the regime," she declared. "There is an institutional crisis, there is a complete deterioration of the apparatus that must protect the lives of women."
The previous case: 28 days at large
Femicide number 52 of 2026, that of Noemí Pérez López, 38, was also marked by a delay in the arrest of the perpetrator. According to Ileana Álvarez, director of OGAT, who informed martinoticias.com, Pérez López was attacked with a bladed weapon by her ex-partner on 8 August in the community of Pasopata, municipality of Jesús Menéndez, Las Tunas. The suspect remained at large for 28 days and was arrested on 5 September in Havana.
Overall figures up to 23 September
In addition to the 53 verified femicides, OGAT records 27 attempted femicides and two murders of men through femicide-related violence so far in 2026. The organisation continues to investigate other alerts received in 2025 and 2026, and reiterated its call to the public to report such incidents.
Source: Google News CU — La Habana