National Gender Policy Focuses on Six Pillars

Thea Garcia-Ramirez

The 2021-2030 National Gender Policy focuses on the gaps and areas for further action in six primary pillars: health, education, wealth and employment creation, gender-based violence, women in power and decision-making and organizational system strengthening. NWC President Thea Garcia Ramirez says that while there are some inroads, more has to be done to ensure equality and equity for all, especially women and girls.

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Chair, National Women’s Commission

“This is part of the socialisation process. We want to get everybody involved and to learn about the national gender policy and the accompanying action plan because it is not just a policy unless we put it into motion and we actually implement it. It basically seeks to empower women and make sure that we are not only equal but in different areas, we have equitable measures that would put us on par with Belizean men. There were some gaps that were not quite – we really weren’t able to implement those. A lot of those had to do with the pandemic. We had almost two years when we didn’t have any contact. So now we have renewed and we are still taking the pillars that we have that we look at. And I think that this one is more comprehensive, we have done extensive consultations over the last year and I think that it will have the support of the majority of Belizeans moving forward this time.”

The proposed policy is expected to go to cabinet for approval by the end of this year and possibly implemented by the next fiscal year in 2023.