Breaking “Belizean Cheaters”: Women Deplore Lascivious Content Shared Online
Since the weekend, the social media page, Belizean Cheaters and all its evolutions have been wreaking havoc across the country. Even as the pages are reported to the Facebook Administrator, visits have increased by leaps and bounds. Using fake profiles, information and pictures of men and women have been posted, slandering many reputations in the process. From what it is known, the scandalous posts have led to instances of domestic violence. In one instance the nude photos of an under-aged girl surfaced on the Facebook page. In another case, the salacious information led to threats by victims towards the alleged perpetrators of the cyber-crime and police were notified. At an event today, the issue was condemned as a form of cyber-bullying. Special Envoy for Women and Children Kim Simplis Barrow and Artist Katie Usher say why it is dangerous.
Katie Usher
Katie Usher, Artist
“Recently there is some group on Facebook and we need to address child pornography. Every time they have cycles of nudes of young women and it is not okay; that is child pornography and that is cyber bullying. The twenty-second of February was international day against bullying. We need to address these things. That is also including in sexual violence and the amount of young women; that is a crime. That is called child pornography; it is illegal and it is implicit. Whether you are sharing it, whether you are talking about it, you are allowing it. Silence is acquiescence. And worse when you share it, you are participating in child pornography.”
Kim Simplis-Barrow
Kim Simplis-Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children
“It is really unfortunate that we’ve reached this stage. As a society it is quite embarrassing really that we are going to such length to slander people and from what I have been told, because I haven’t seen it and no one has tagged me on anything. I have been asked not to be tagged or not to be sent any photos because I do not want to be a part of it. All I am saying is that we really, really do need to look at our legislation and try to strengthen every single unit that will be in charge of protecting victim and in this case it is obviously very, very necessary and urgent.”
