H.R.C.B. fights domestic abuse

The statistics may not be as closely followed as those on AIDS, but that doesn’t mean domestic violence is not occurring all around us. The latest numbers indicate the disturbing practice is actually on the increase nation-wide, with the highest number of incidents being reported in the Belize District. Within that context, the Human Rights Commission of Belize has been travelling all over the country hosting workshops aimed at changing attitudes on abuse in the home. Today, the commission hosted key community representatives from the Belize District.

Maria Gamero, Co-ordination, Human Rights Commission

“The message here is to empower people to know what these things are about, and to go about spreading this message to other people who are in domestic situations, that they need to get out of this before something worse happens, something more drastic. On our discussions, we are finding out that more and more people are being exposed to domestic violence. Somebody mentioned there that it seems that instead of going down, domestic violence is actually increasing. I firmly believe that education, educating people is one of the means to try and stop this. And I believe that working together, all people involved, we can do something to help our people.”

Participating in today’s workshop were officials from the Human Rights Commission, the Department of Women Affairs, the Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit, community leaders, community nurse’s aids and students.