Gender-based Violence

As per the Belize Crime Observatory, gender-based violence has been increasing since 2021 and remains a vital issue in the National Gender Policy, seeking to end acts of violence affecting women and girls. To further raise awareness on this issue, the National Women's Commission (NWC) is championing a move dubbed the Social and Behaviour Communication Campaign (SBCC) to spread the message of the need to change people's way of socializing and how they deal with differences. The campaign reached San Pedro Town on Thursday, August 24th, and presenters of the sensitization strategy engaged a group of island stakeholders at a session held at the Grand Caribe Resort, where vital information was shared.

35 professionals in Belize are better equipped to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls during health emergencies. With funding support from the Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility (CRF) of the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Ministry of Sustainable Development Climate Change and Risk Disaster Management to conduct the training which was completed this week.

On Thursday, August 11th, a meeting was held in San Pedro Town involving island stakeholders to discuss a national plan in the ongoing efforts to create greater awareness regarding gender-based violence. This issue continues to be a serious matter across the country, and San Pedro is no exception. The possibility of opening a mobile women's center on the island to help the vulnerable was also discussed in the discussion held at the San Pedro Town Council conference room.

On Tuesday, April 5th, 2022, Hon. Elvia Vega-Samos, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs (MHDFIPA), received a donation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment to improve the infrastructure to strengthen data collection, management, harmonization and analysis of gender-based violence (GBV) in Belize from Mr. Ian King, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP.

Tuesday, March 8th, is recognized globally as International Women’s Day, celebrating women throughout the month. The current town council administration counts with four female leaders, and women-led organizations on the island have contributed towards the battle against gender-based violence.

Activities marking the beginning of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence started last Thursday. They continued over the weekend with training for men and women on the same topic. Other scheduled events leading to December 10th include a ‘Women in Business competition,’ a mass, police meet and greet, and an Information Day is offering free legal advice, among other services.

The Chief Justice, Madam Michelle Arana received equipment to improve the case management of the Judiciary particularly relating to gender-based violence and family matters from the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP.

The Special Envoy for Women and Children, Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow is gravely concerned by the most recent report of gender-based violence involving Ms. Nicole Usher and her infant child.