Amnesty International has unveiled a report shedding light on systemic gender-based violence against women human rights activists and journalists in Cuba. The report, released on Tuesday, demands an end to these practices, which are reportedly being used as mechanisms of control.
Covering incidents from 2014 to 2025, the report highlights that Cuban women who challenge the status quo are often subjected to invasive strip searches, gendered stigmatization, and the weaponization of motherhood. This situation is compounded by threats against family members. Women from marginalized communities, particularly those of minority races, single mothers, and those with diverse sexual orientations, face heightened risks of physical, psychological, and online harassment (JURIST).
Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas, Ana Piquer, emphasized the severity, noting that women defenders are targeted not only for their activism but also for their roles as mothers and community leaders. The state reportedly uses gender-based violence as a tool to undermine their dignity and collective strength.
Statistics reveal that gender-based violence in Cuban communities resulted in 89 femicide cases in 2023. Alarmingly, within the first three months of 2024, there have been twelve more documented cases, positioning Cuba among the Latin American countries with the highest femicide rates. Moreover, women accounted for over 60% of arbitrary detentions in 2023, with 78 women held as political prisoners.
Cuba’s 2024 submission to the United Nations concerning its compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) noted some legal reforms. However, challenges persist, such as the absence of a specific definition of discrimination against women and enforcement gaps that conflict with CEDAW’s articles 1 and 2. Despite acknowledging these reforms, the UN observed ongoing barriers to achieving true gender equality.
For lawyers, human rights advocates, and policymakers, this report underscores the pressing need for continued advocacy and reform efforts to address and dismantle systemic issues in Cuba that perpetuate gender-based violence.