16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence starts now
Cynthia Williams
The annual Sixteen Days of Activism to end gender based violence was launched this afternoon with a parade through the city streets. Schools as well as NGOs turned out with signs bearing messages against domestic violence. Before the march, a short ceremony was held in which a one point four million dollar United Nations Trust Fund Project was launched to implement the national plan of action to end Gender Based Violence. It all coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is observed on November twenty-fifth and this year is complemented by the new Unite Campaign. News Five was on hand for the launch.
Cynthia Williams, Human Development Coordinator, Women’s Department
“We are proud to report that our partnership has gone international. We are the recipients of a project grant of almost one point four million Belize dollars. Belize was the first country in the Caribbean to develop a cabinet endorsed national plan of action focused on ending gender based violence. This grant will be used to implement this multi-sectoral plan over the next three years. The announcement of the UN Trust Fund Project to support the implementation of Belize’s National Gender-based Violence Plan of Action could not have come at a better time than during sixteen days of activism to end gender based violence. So in addition to this being the official opening ceremonies of sixteen days, it also serves as the official launch of the project that will support the work of key partners; agencies including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Police Department and the Ministry of Human Development Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation.”
Ann-Marie Williams
Ann-Marie Williams, Executive Director, Women’s Commission
“November twenty-fifth is the day observed every year by the United Nations as the day of zero tolerance against violence against women. This year, it’s a doubling of the efforts. The sixteen days of activism planning committee, of which I am a part, decided to make the observation a little bit more poignant by taking the Unite Campaign which is why we are weaning the orange shirt. The secretary general has decided to put together this campaign to try to focus on the importance of ending violence against women and girls. And so this year instead of only observing once per year, the Unite Campaign is the twenty-fifth of every month so it strengthens the effort the end violence against women and girls and women and children which is the local theme for our sixteen days of activism.”
Awareness activities will be held throughout the country over the sixteen days and the public is encouraged to take advantage of upcoming workshops and legal clinics.
