Spotlight Initiative Hands Over ICT Equipment
Today, at the Radisson Fort George in Belize City, information and communication technology equipment was handed over to the Civil Society Reference Group to continue its work addressing family violence and empowering women. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the work of community-based leaders, advocates and influencers who connect with the marginalised, vulnerable and the indigenous communities across the country of Belize. But it has exposed its limitation in resources so there was need to strengthen institutional capacity.
Melissa Zuniga
Melissa Zuniga, Chair, Civil Society National Reference Group
“We are no longer limited by distance. As a result of technology and now the additional ICT equipment that we are receiving, we will enhance our capacity to access the information opportunities and allow for faster interaction with each other.”
Birgit Gerstenberg
Birgit Gerstenberg, UN Resident Coordinator, Belize & El Salvador
“The equipment being handed over are three dell latitude laptops, three official professional lifetime download, three virus protection software, three backpack notebook carrying back; five sets of replacement cartridges for the three; all-in-one printer which prints copies, scans; flash drives for Civil Society National Reference Group backup system.”
Gender-based violence and violence against women and girls affects one in three women in their lifetime with thirty-five percent of women worldwide having experienced either physical or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. The digital tools handed over today will allow for the Civil Society National Reference Group to efficiently engage, document and oversee activities to eliminate gender-based violence. During her address, Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia makes reference to the recent death of a mother and child in Saint Matthew’s Village.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
“A most horrific incident within the past week of the violent deaths of a woman and child and that brings it home to us in a poignant way, the importance of continuing this struggle. It seemingly never ends, but we must find the will to continue that fight until we can bring it down absolutely as much as we possibly can. It is so very important for us to have partnerships and very committed donors and other partners as we continue this vital struggle in eliminating violence against women and girls.”
The donation was made by the United Nation’s Spotlight Initiative, which is about improving human relations and saying no to any forms of violence against women and girls.
Mirco Schroeder
Mirco Schroeder, E.U. Programme Manager
“The European Union is proud to support and to be a partner in the Spotlight Initiative. It is an effort to eliminate all forms of family violence against women and girls. It is also a model partnership between the government of Belize, the United Nations and Civil Society and the European Union.”
There are four ongoing projects with Belizean N.G.O.s with a total grant fund of one point five million dollars. There is also a call for proposals for N.G.O.s in the energy sector. Duane Moody for News Five.
