The Police Drama Club Speaks Gender Based Violence

On November twenty-third, Belize joined the rest of the world in the official launch of the annual sixteen days of activism to stop gender based violence against women and children.  The activities come to an end on December tenth, but since the start of the campaign, various organizations have been carrying out events to create awareness around the very real and sensitive issue of gender based violence that has been affecting family life. The Belize Police Department, has been visiting with different schools from across the country to send the message that victims should seek help.  The drama club of the department has found a creative way to send the message through drama, singing and a compelling testimony from a victim. News Five caught up with the team of officers as they visited with Canaan High School.

Kenroy Elijio

Cpl. Kenroy Elijio, Member, Police Drama Club

“It is very timely. We keep hearing about all these incidents in different parts of our communities about domestic violence. And we think that we couldn’t have done it at a better time to raise awareness because sometimes people are not aware that there are agencies, there are people out there that could help. We also had some of the students who said that they were not aware that men could also make reports against their female partners about domestic abuse. We hope that they are not in relationships at this stage in their life, but if they are, we want them to speak out—not to live in it. The thing is if they start off like this now in an abusive relationship, the possibilities of that person changing over time, it won’t happen. So we want them to speak out. And if it is somebody in the family or somebody in the neighbourhood for them to know that there are people out there to help; the number one being the Police Department, Domestic Violence Unit.”