Statistics say that there were 763 cases of domestic abuse reported last year but counselors and social workers say that most cases go un-reported. So on this Friday night, possibly dozens of women across Belize will be the victim of domestic abuse. It's an unpleasant statistic, but the issue was brought into sharp focus today, the International Day to End Violence Against Women. It is just day one of an unprecedented 16 days of activism for women's rights and against domestic violence. Ceremonies and a candlelight vigil were held in downtown Belize City but our coverage begins on the Northern Highway.
Keith Swift Reporting, [keithkswift@gmail.com]
The torch was lit last Friday at the Central Park in Corozal Town after which it began its run. Fast forward one week and nearly a hundred miles south, and that is the sign of the symbolic torch entering Belize City limits at the first roundabout on the Northern Highway. It is being carried by Eckert Middleton from the Alliance Against Aids.
At the Freetown Road roundabout, the torch is passed the Torkelsons from Youth Enhancement Services. At HL's Burger on Freetown Road it was handed to Krem Radio deejay Orson Picart who had one question.
Orson Picart,
"Should I walk or run?"
Orson did neither...he would jog after receiving the torch from the Torkelsons and then lighting it. The torch was carried on from there and we next caught up with it on Magazine Road. That is Nellie Trench from the National Sports Council. She then passed it on to Police Superintendent Russell Blackett.
The torch continued down Dolphin Street and here is the group about 15 minutes later on Regent Street where the torch run ended at Battlefield Park and in the hands of Ambassador Dolores Balderamos Garcia.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia,
"I think this is a great way for us to draw attention to the cause. As you can hear, I was doing a little jogging just now."
Keith Swift,
How was it for you?
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia,
"Thank goodness it was short because I am not really not in shape."
The torch's stop at the Battlefield Park
coincided with observance of International Day to End Violence Against Women. Delvorine Duhaney and Lorna Wade who are literally the poster girls of the domestic violence campaign were a key part of the observance.
Delvorine Duhaney, Domestic Abuse Survivor
"I am very proud for this opportunity that they've given me to speak out because I don't really see myself as a victim anymore but as a proud survivor and I am glad that by me speaking out, I am able to help other women."
Lorna Wade, Domestic Abuse Survivor
"I am a proud survivor, not a victim anymore, and we are here to give our support and to tell them that they are not alone, that we are here with them."
Director of the Women's Department Carol Fonseca says the silence has been broken.
Carol Fonseca,
"Basically what the day is, is to highlight the whole issue of domestic violence in our country and to see if we can support those who have been abused and those who are living with abuse in our country. In some districts we have seen an increase and in some other districts we have seen a decrease in that. We believe that a lot of it has to do with the fact that there is much more public awareness now about the issue of domestic violence so people are more willing to come forward, they feel that they can come forward and get help and that there are organizations willing to support them, see them through the process, and so for us we are very pleased to know that this is no longer a taboo issue in our society. It is an issue that people are speaking about. The silence has been broken and we want to continue to keep it that way."
And in that hope, today they lit a torch of hope rather than curse the darkness of domestic despair.
The 16 days of activism continue through to World Aids Day on December 1st and Human Rights Day on December 10th. The torch continues its run to Cayo tomorrow and then onto Belmopan and ends in Punta Gorda on December 7th.
