Belize Women’s Political Caucus launches a 2-year action plan

Women in public office have been a rarity in Belize’s political landscape when compared to the number of men who have offered themselves for candidacy in municipal and general elections over the years.  Sure, there have been a number of initiatives, including Women In Politics, a broad curriculum organized by the National Women’s Commission, to embrace the fairer sex.  By and large, however, these programs all come and go.  Belize Women’s Political Caucus, established in 1991, is one such effort that is seeing a revival.  Led by President Dorla Bowman, B.W.P.C., launched a two-year action plan to address the presence of women in the arena.

Dorla Bowman, President, Belize Women’s Political Caucus

Dorla Bowman

“The Belize Women’s Political Caucus, BWPC, is alive and well.  We have been taking stock of the wellbeing of the nation of Belize and have examined ways how we can get the full participation of our men and women at every level of our country’s development process, especially at the national level of decision-making and policymaking.  We have put together a two year-plan to begin to move the Women’s Political Caucus forward and to address some of the key issues that prevent the full utilization of all our human resources. In order for Belize to be a progressive nation there must be full participation of women and men.  I would like to praise those women projects that have come and gone and are presently being implemented; namely, WIP of the National Women’s Commission and the Strengthening Women’s Representation in National Leadership.  The Belize Women’s Political Caucus is neither a project nor a program.  Projects come and projects go and programs alone cannot do it.  The Belize Women’s Political Caucus is not a politically appointed body.  The Belize Women’s Political Caucus is an organization.  It is a non-governmental organization that is in it for the long haul.  It is an N.G.O. that plans strategically and is action oriented.”

The objective of the Belize Women’s Political Caucus is for overall gender equality not only in political races but also in government by 2020.