And while the Belize National Coast Guard celebrates its third anniversary, today signaled the start of sixteen days of activism against gender based violence. The observance comes on the heels of the new Domestic Violence Act that provides women in violent situations to with more security and greater access to justice.
While the numbers are still out on just how many cases of violence against women were reported so far in 2008, in 2007 we know the police responded to one thousand. Over the next two weeks the Women’s Department will be actively involved in activities countrywide to help raise awareness under the theme human rights for women, human rights for all.
It started off this evening with a march through the streets of Belize City. According to the Women’s Department Director Icilda Humes, the sixteen days of activism is a public awareness advocacy tool.
Icilda Humes, Director – Women’s Department
“The response to these activities has been a great one. In particular the support from the partner agencies, this year we have an extensive calendar to observe sixteen days of activism and we continue to see more schools, more young people, more people coming from out district to Belize City to be a part of these activities. We continue to see people coming into Department weeks or months after we’ve had our 16 Days of Activism observance saying that I saw you all on the news, I heard about the march, and I really want to be
a part of this movement, I really want to see what I can do to support those who may be in abusive situations. So we think the message is getting loud and people are hearing about it. We have more men coming to the department to ask what can we do. We have more men opening up and say that they do were victims of domestic violence. We have more women opening up and saying they were victims of domestic violence and we have more people on a whole coming out and saying I need help, what does this movement, what does this sector have to offer to me.
While the reported cases of domestic violence have not necessarily been far and too few between, the level of severity has not been as prominent in the media and that is a good thing because over the years we’ve been seeing deaths as a result of domestic violence and that’s definitely not what we really want to see. But even when we see increases in the amount of reported cases, it is not necessarily a bad thing because at least we can say that people are aware of their rights and that people are willing to get up and say I am being abused, I want to get out, I want to press charges, and that is a good thing because that is what sixteen days of activism is all about; the public awareness and the advocacy, letting people know that there is a support system in place to help them.”
Humes says there are many reasons why women remain in abusive relationships but the main reason is due to financial dependence now that the new legislation has included domestic violence to include financial abuse Humes believes women in such situations will feel more comfortable to leave and get the help that is now afforded to them.
