Experts: Bzean women are fighting against domestic abuse
For decades, it was an issue that remained under the rug in far too many Belizean homes. But slowly, the dark secret of domestic abuse has been brought into the light of day. The stories of survivors are anything but pretty and there are still a large number of women suffering in silence, but as I found out today, there is no shortage of hope.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
These are the faces of just a few of the Belizean women who were killed or maimed at the hands of someone they loved and trusted. And according to the experts, domestic violence against women continues to affect hundreds of families. Director of the Women?s Department Carol Fonseca says although the subject is no longer taboo, a number of cases are still not being reported to the authorities.
Carol Fonseca, Director, Women?s Department
?We hear of so many cases, but it?s not necessarily that the women are coming and reporting it. What we do know is that in terms of the statistics that we have, for example last year we had seven hundred and twenty-three cases at the Women?s Department dealt with. For us that?s a good number because of the fact that we can see that people are being more aware of the issues and are more willing to come forward to talk about it.?
The latest statistics reveal that there has been an increase of cases in the northern districts, and more disturbingly, there appears to be a troubling new trend among another vulnerable sector of society.
Carol Fonseca, Director
?What we are noticing a lot of is that we have younger people being involved in issues of abuse. A lot of control taking place among teenagers, young boys and girls, where there?s a lot of control going on. And that?s an issue that we?re paying close attention to because we seeing an increase in that.?
Some women who manage to survive their ordeal have now joined the fight in eliminating the violence. Delvorine Duheaney, who was blinded after her boyfriend threw acid in her face, is now at the forefront of empowering victims like herself.
Delvorine Duheaney, Survivor, Domestic Abuse
?I think our women need to be protected and I think the law really needs to be enforced… I want to say, be proud of yourself as a woman. It doesn?t matter what anyone says about you, it?s what you think about yourself. And if you?re in a relationship where you feel like you?re not being treated rightly, speak up, you have rights, or get out.?
Mirlin Plunkett was stabbed repeatedly in her neck, but survived the ordeal to break her silence and is recognised as one of the country?s greatest supporters for abused women.
Mirlin Plunkett, Survivor, Domestic Abuse
?We see women who have suffered silently and now we have to break that cycle because it?s getting us nowhere by being silent. But if we speak out and become more vocal, we can assist and stop this cycle from repeating itself.?
There are many types of abuses that relate to domestic violence. The list includes financial, verbal, physical abuse. Some contributing factors are poverty, jealousy, and independence. Several programmes have been implemented to end violence, but there remain a number of areas that need to be strengthened, like counselling and rehabilitation.
Carol Fonseca
?We admit that is certainly a weakness in terms of our entire country, and those are things that we?re trying to address, not only from the government?s perspective, but also on the part of NGO?s and other organisations. We need to have more counsellors in our country, we need to have more rehabilitation and recreational centres for our young people. Those are crucial if we are very serious about making sure we eliminate gender based violence, not only domestic violence. We need to make sure that we?re seeing that counselling and rehabilitation as a priority in our country.?
Domestic violence should not only be a concern for those affected, but it is an issue that affects the society on a whole. Today, Haven House, a shelter for battered women and their children received a cheque of twenty-four thousand dollars from Scotia Bank, a donation that will make a big difference in many lives.
Dorla Rosado, Programme Director, Haven House
?This money is specifically to help build a fence in order to make the area more secure around the shelter, a cement fence. Haven House is a shelter for battered women and their children and we offer up to twenty-one days shelter and we offer services such as counselling, we take the women to the court also to get protection orders or restraining orders and we also try to help them get employment while they?re in the shelter if they need it.?
Pat Andrews, managing Director, Nova Scotia Bank
?Our staff normally do quite a bit of fundraising to help non-profit organisations throughout the whole year, but this case of Haven House we decided to go to the Bank of Nova Scotia and get the funds directly from their pool to help out Haven House.?
The handing over ceremony coincided with today?s observance of International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. To mark the occasion, an official ceremony and candle light vigil was held at the Battlefield Park. The event also marks the beginning of sixteen days of activism which encompasses three important dates, November twenty-fifth which highlights the issue of domestic violence, December first, World AIDS Day, and December tenth, Human Rights Day.
Carol Fonseca
?What we are trying to do is use the sixteen days as a means of drawing public awareness to the issues of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and human rights and show how they?re all linked together. The theme for National Day to Eliminate Violence against Women is: For the health or the world, for the health of women, no more violence. So you can see where the human rights issue comes in, the health issues comes in, HIV/AIDS comes in. and these are all challenges that we?re facing within our country.?
Following the ceremony, women, men, survivors, supporters, and protectors marched through downtown to raise awareness about domestic violence.
