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19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Surena on her bed in Havana, Cuba

Soreña and I met in Havana when I was working on Cuban feminists. Surena founded her own NGO to support women in Cuba who are victims of domestic violence and herself survived 4 years of violence by her ex husband. Soreña is a pseudonym, chosen by her. She lives today with her very supportive partner and her two daughters in Old Havana. They all know about her past, still she has to protect herself for political reasons as domestic violence is under strict censorship in Cuba. Just reporting it puts you in danger. During the pandemic, Soreña and I are in close contact and she tells me about the current new cases of femicides in Cuba, that are increasing at an alarming rate during the lockdown.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Havana, Cuba
Copyright: © Ulla Deventer