Gender Equality Observatory Updates Figures on Violence Against Women
On this Orange Day against violence toward women, commemorated every 25th, the Cuban Observatory on Gender Equality has published striking figures.
According to its most recent update, corresponding to last year, 49 femicides of women aged 15 and older were tried in Cuban courts, representing a rate of 1.2 per 100,000 women.
The most revealing fact is that in 89 percent of cases, the crime occurred within the victim’s own home, and 75 percent of the murdered women had no employment relationship. Additionally, 32 victims were mothers, leaving 54 minors without their mother’s protection.
The study by the Cuban Observatory on Gender Equality adds that the statistics show a slight decrease compared to previous years, with 76 fewer cases, although it stresses that machista violence continues to occur in the domestic space.
Orange Day is not an isolated date but a global initiative commemorated on the 25th of every month. Proclaimed in 2009 by the «UNITE» campaign of the United Nations Secretary-General, this day seeks to mobilize governments, organizations, and all civil society to generate awareness and move to action in order to eradicate violence against women and girls.
The color orange symbolizes a bright future free of violence, and its monthly repetition turns the struggle into a permanent commitment, not just an annual commemoration.
From the United Nations, actions go beyond symbolism. The «UNITE» campaign promotes concrete strategies such as prevention through education, strengthening legal frameworks, and collecting precise data to make the problem visible.
These initiatives are articulated with the 16 Days of Activism against gender violence, which culminate each December 10, Human Rights Day, creating a continuous platform of political and social advocacy.
In Cuba, the Cuban Observatory on Gender Equality (OCIG) stands as the main statistical tool for monitoring these problems.
Developed by ONEI and the Federation of Cuban Women, this system collects, processes, and makes visible 33 indicators updated annually.
Its function is precisely to provide the necessary evidence so that each Orange Day is not just a reminder, but a firm step based on data, guiding public policies that attack the roots of gender violence in the country.
