Women focus of World Population Day

Today is World Population Day and Belize joined other members of the United Nations to observe the day by taking a special look at the role of women. We caught up with the director of the Women’s Department, Anita Zetina, who reminded us about the significance of protecting women while examining the issue of population.

Anita Zetina, Director, Women’s Department

“For Belize I think it enables us to create more awareness about the issues affecting the lives of women for example, violence in the home, and we continue to work on that issue. The area of sexual and reproductive health for women is also an issue that we are working on. Presently we’re developing a reproductive health policy which will address not only the needs of women, but also the needs of men.”

Faralee Gabourel

“What are some of the dangers that women in Belize have to face day to day?”

Anita Zetina

“I think violence against women, which would include not only violence in the home but also rape, sexual harassment, I think are issues that we do face in Belize as women. The whole issue of discrimination, for example lower-paying jobs, the issue of expelling young women from high school when they get pregnant, which is changing a little bit now, but more work needs to be done in that area. We are also aware that some female unmarried teachers are also terminated because they get pregnant and so those are some of the issues that we are working on and we continue to work on.”

The Department of Human Development, Youth and Women has organized a gender integration committee which will be analyzing policies put forward by Government and implementing programs which will benefit both men and women equally.