Campaign opens against gender based violence
Eight hundred and fifty-eight: that’s the number of domestic violence reports filed by Belizean women in 2006. And while we seldom hear of women killing or harming their significant other, in that same twelve months, one hundred and ten men also reported partner abuse. Gender-based violence is a year-round occurrence, but starting next week organisations in Belize will kick off Sixteen Days of Activism during which they will take to the streets and the airwaves to focus more attention on the issue. This afternoon WIN-Belize Executive Director and member of the activism committee, Carolyn Reynolds, told us what they hope to achieve.
Carolyn Reynolds, Executive Director, WIN-Belize
“The sixteen days of activism is really to commemorate zero tolerance day, which is the actual day is twenty-fifth November and to end violence against women and also to observe the first of December which is World AIDS Day and the tenth of December, which is Human Rights Day.”
“One of the things like you said is to bring the awareness, bring it to the forefront and to encourage women and others to take an active role when it comes to domestic violence, especially. Let us be a part of some action to do something about it because it has been happening too regular.”
“For WIN-Belize we are doing the torch run. We started in Punta Gorda last Saturday and today it would have been here in Belize City. In Orange Walk we’ll be having a youth forum looking at the two issues because our main focus is on gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS, so we will be having a youth forum in Orange Walk. In San Ignacio we gave out pamphlets, brochures on the two issues, information sheets to the citizens of San Ignacio. The Women’s Department will be having a candlelight vigil next Friday and that will be held here in Belize City. On Sunday, which is the actual day, we’ll be having a church service at Bird’s Isle and that is being planned by Y.W.C.A. and Haven House.”
WIN-Belize’s torch did not make its grand entry into Belize City today due to the inclement weather. However, the flame has been to Belmopan, San Ignacio and Dangriga. On Tuesday it travels to Caye Caulker and Wednesday to Orange Walk. The run ends on December first in Corozal.
