Activities scheduled for Women’s Week

“Believing in Ourselves-Uniting for the Future”, is the theme for Women’s Week being observed March fourth to tenth. Acting Women’s Department Director, Christy Castillo, says Belizean women have come a long way.

Christy Castillo, Acting Dir., Women’s Department

“We’ve created a referral system with the Ministry of Health and the Police Department. We’ve held workshops that reached over twelve thousand participants on the issues of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS. We’ve done over seventy-one skills training programme with women’s groups for micro-enterprises. So there’s been a lot of steps and most importantly we’ve had the two laws that were passed, the amendments recognizing common-law unions and proving for non-financial contributions in matters of separation and inheritance rights.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“Women in decision making; one of the platforms that we put forward for the Beijing conference, still yet to see that thirty percent in upper level management positions?”

Christy Castillo

“You’re seeing women in director positions in their business communities right now. People heading the Belize Telecommunications Limited that kind of thing.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“Politics?”

Christy Castillo

“Politics we need to work on. Actually, the National Women’s Commission is launching a book “Opportunities for Women’s Leadership in Belize.” Maybe that will give us more of an insight into why more women aren’t running, but we definitely hope to see some come the next elections, both parties.”

A number of activities are being held throughout the country to celebrate the week. On Thursday, International Women’s Day, the book “Opportunities for Women’s Leadership in Belize” will be launched at 10:00 a.m. at the House of Culture. At 2:00 in the afternoon a domestic violence report will also be presented.