Awareness torch lights up city to end violence/reduce AIDS

The Women’s Issues Network torch of awareness arrived in Belize City this afternoon as part of a “hands-on” campaign to highlight the issues of gender based violence and HIV/AIDS. The torch run began at the Philip Goldson International Airport in Ladyville in the hands of members of the Belize Defence Force. The flame was then passed over to basketball star Tracy Garnett who handed it over to the representative of the Belize Police Department at the Williamson factory. The W.P.C. was then relieved by another basketball great, Enid Dakers. From there, the flame slowly wound its way down to Belize City, ending with a small ceremony at the Battlefield Park. That’s where we found organiser Shelmadine Cacho.

Shelmadine Cacho, Coordinator, 2005 Torch Run, WIN Belize
?We wanted to find creative ways to get the message out about HIV/AIDS and gender based violence. So we thought that we would take the campaign to the streets, going through neighbourhoods where everybody is. We are trying to find where everybody is, trying to get the information to them there.?

Janelle Chanona
?This will all end in a health conference in Toledo, talk to us about the topics on the table at that conference??

Shelmadine Cacho
?Basically we are going to talk about HIV and gender based violence, those are the main issues that we are dealing with at this point… We have to find ways to alleviate these issues. People are facing these issues everyday and victims of gender based violence are keeping quiet, they are not speaking out, so we?re saying there?s hope, you have a system in place where you can report these crimes, and people are being prosecuted for these crimes. When it comes to HIV/AIDS we?re saying, don?t leave you loved ones on the side of the street to die, let?s try to take care of ourselves.?

Janelle Chanona
?Would victims be able to come to WIN-Belize and get information and be able to go from there??

Shelmadine Cacho
?Well we have information. WIN-Belize is really not a service oriented organisation, we basically deal with policies. Women?s Department, BFLA, Y.E.S. and those organisations that are member agencies of WIN-Belize take care of issues like that.?

Next week the torch will travel to Belmopan and Dangriga, before heading to Punta Gorda for a two day health conference. The event is being held under the theme “Woman, Man, One People; United to Reduce HIV/AIDS and Gender Based Violence.” Technical support for the torch run was provided by the Belize Defence Force.