Today is Int’l Day to Eliminate Violence against Women

Around the world today activities were held to commemorate International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women… local events included a candlelight vigil in San Ignacio, the WIN-Belize torch run in the old capital, and workshops in Orange Walk, Corozal and Belmopan. Today News Five’s Kendra Griffith spoke with Women’s Department Director Icilda Humes and discovered that while gender-based violence is far from being eliminated, some positive steps forward have been made.

Icilda Humes, Director, Women’s Department
“It’s physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse.”

Kendra Griffith
Ministry of Health statistics are that in 2006 there were nine hundred and sixty-eight reports of Domestic Violence. In 2007 that number jumped a hundred and eighty to one thousand one hundred and forty-eight cases made by both women and men. But according to Director of the Women’s Department, Icilda Humes, that trend is not necessarily bad news.

Icilda Humes
“More victims, more men and women are being more aware of their rights, being more aware of the fact that they can access the shelter, more aware of the fact that they can apply for a protection order, that they can go to the Family Violence Unit and make a reports about domestic violence. The family Court will tell you that there has been an increase in the number of men who have applied for protection orders under the domestic violence act, so much so that we have even published a handbook that’s called Men’s Handbook on Domestic Violence because even though we are the women’s department we deal with families on a whole and so we have men who are our clients and men who come to us and say they are a victim of domestic violence. There are those who have physical violence being perpetrated on them but most of the cases that we have seen in terms of men coming into the department are more the emotional, psychological type of abuse.”

Resources available for victims of violence include support groups, shelter referrals, and case management. The Women’s Department has also instituted gender awareness programs in schools to target the younger population and is looking into an intervention program for batterers. Another positive advancement is that on October sixth, several new changes to the Domestic Violence Act came into force.

Icilda Humes
“The definition of domestic violence has been expanded legally. It now includes financial abuse. Part of it also includes the fact that the victims of domestic violence can also claim financial compensation through the Family Court for any injuries that may have resulted from domestic violence. Under the new legislation, de facto spouses or persons in visiting relationships, boyfriend, girlfriend, type situation can now apply for protection orders.”

“One of the other areas we are also pleased with is the penalties for the breach of the protection orders and occupation orders. For the first offence, you are liable to nine thousand dollars or up to twelve months in prison or both. For a second breach of a protection order, or occupation order it’s twelve to fifteen thousand dollars or up to two years in prison or both. And for a third offence, it is five years in prison.”

Every year, November twenty-fifth to December tenth is set aside internationally as Sixteen Days of Activism to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence. The observance includes World AIDS Day and Human Rights Day, as well as a number of awareness activities.

Icilda Humes
“Sixteen Days of Activism, the purpose of it is to emphasize the correlation that exists between violence against women, HIV/AIDS and Human Rights violations. Some of the major activities happening throughout the country include the candlelight vigils and the marches to commemorate International Day to Prevent Violence Against Women and Sixteen Days of Activism. So most of those will be taking place this Friday. In Belize City, the opening ceremony and march will take place at the Yabra green starting at three and that will be followed by a march through the streets of Belize, leaving from the Yabra area and finishing at the memorial park. That march is followed by a youth rally being organized by the National AIDS Commission for World AIDS Day.”

Domestic Violence is a complex with roots in larger issues such as gender socialization and poverty, but Humes believes those can’t be excuses for such acts to continue. She encourages victims in such situations to seek help.

Icilda Humes
“The legislation is there and the services are there to protect anyone who finds themselves in an abusive situation.”

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

Friday’s rally will also feature performances by Etana, Continental Cat, and Dignitaries. Men and women are encouraged to come out and participate. Other activities on the calendar include the Win-Belize torch run, a National Women’s Commission human rights forum, and a male forum hosted by the B.F.L.A.