News · Rights
Justicia 11J documents 389 repressive acts against 106 women relatives of political prisoners
The report "Women Who Sustain the Struggle" records summonses, threats, detentions and surveillance against mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of people jailed on political grounds between July 11, 2021 and October 31, 2026.
The organization Justicia 11J recorded 389 repressive events directed at 106 women between July 11, 2021 and October 31, 2026, according to its report "Women Who Sustain the Struggle", on political and gender-based violence against women relatives of people deprived of liberty on political grounds in Cuba.
The most frequent forms recorded in the report are summonses and interrogations, with 102 events, threats, with 87, arbitrary detentions, with 77, surveillance or police cordons around their homes, with 69, and reprisals linked to prison visits, with 66. In 22 events, the imprisoned relative was used as a hostage.
According to Justicia 11J, State Security heads the list of main perpetrators. The report records forced stripping during interrogations and prison searches, sexual propositions by political police officers, and assaults or psychological pressure against women days after giving birth. It also records threats to take away custody of children, harassment of minors at school and the forced separation of daughters from imprisoned mothers.
At least six women went from supporting an imprisoned relative to being prosecuted or jailed themselves on charges of crimes against the constitutional order; one of them was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Every woman interviewed for the study lost her job or gave up personal plans because of state harassment, and suffered physical and emotional deterioration.
Camila Rodríguez, director of Justicia 11J, argues that the state seeks to make the cost of defending a relative unbearable. The report says appeals filed with the prosecutor's office and the courts are systematically ignored, and that denouncing cases on social media, building support networks between families and seeking international visibility have become these women's most effective protection.
Sources: Diario de Cuba · EFE · Serie Yamacoa: Acciones represivas documentadas por mes (OCDH)
Data updated: 2026-11-12T04:15:00.000Z