Cuba femicide count reaches 60 following Havana murder

The Observatorio de Género de Alas Tensas (OGAT) has documented 60 femicides in Cuba through October 26, 2026, following the confirmed murder of 45-year-old Marili Reina Fajardo in Havana.

Fajardo, a domestic worker and mother of three, was last seen leaving her home in Guanabo early in the morning on October 21. Her body was discovered in the Brisas del Mar area of the Habana del Este municipality, showing signs of extreme violence and sexual assault. While her current partner was previously detained, he has since been released due to a lack of evidence linking him to the crime.

OGAT director Ileana Álvarez called for urgent investigations conducted with a gender perspective, noting that the case highlights the extreme violence women face on the island. The organization also noted that 38 attempted femicides and two murders of men in contexts of gender-based violence have been recorded during this period.