Plan to end violence against women launched

It is hard for anyone, man, woman or child, trapped in a violent home to break out of the vicious cycle. With this in mind, the Ministry of Human Development and Women has been working, at the national and regional level, to establish a plan of action in an effort to eliminate this public health issue. Today, on the occasion of the International Day to End Violence Against Women, the ministry launched the national plan to representatives of key Belizean agencies that work with the battered and abused on a daily basis. Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia says through education and the active participation of men, boys and in some cases, women, the violence can end, given the information and resources available today.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Min. of Human Dev. and Women

“Once we have people that are involved, that intersectoral participation, it will make it easier for us, because the police is only one of the lines of defense. Once they do their part professionally, and once we in the Women’s Department make sure that the counseling and the monitoring is carried out, then we will be able to evaluate countrywide to see how we are doing. But I do believe that nowadays the awareness is heightened and because of that, people will report and people will seek to make the interventions when they are necessary.”

Balderamos-Garcia says the Ministry is pleased that through cooperation with the Ministry of National Security, there is an anti-domestic violence room at the newly refurbished Queen Street Police Station. Trained staff will be on hand to address problems. The ministry distributed flyers, white ribbons and gave radio messages today. An all day fair was held at Constitution Park. The fair was organized by BOWAND and the Women’s Department under the theme, “Together we can: end family violence.”