"End Sexual Violence- Inform, Enforce and Support!" Is the theme for the international campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence" observed November 25 through to December 10. The campaign seeks to eliminate forms of violence against women, through key public education activities held countrywide. Women's Department Director- Icilda Humes told us more:
Icilda Humes, Director - Women's Department
"16 days of activism is an international campaign that 3 international observances, November 25th - International day to end violence against women, December - World Aids days and December 10th - Human rights day. So its starts today with international day to end violence against women and runs right through to human rights day on December 10th so it's actually 16 days on the calendar."
Andrea Polanco
"I know that the aim is to sensitize people but how would you say that over the years has the sensitization been effective?"
Icilda Humes, Director - Women's Department
"Well we have seen the number of persons coming in to report gender base violence increase over the years and we've actually an increase in men speaking out and out against violence because even though people think about gender base violence as a woman thing there are men who are victims of domestic violence and gender base violence as well and so we've seen ore men getting involve, more men coming out and being a part of the march. When it comes to statistics people tend to misunderstand sometimes what statistics are saying hence the reason for us trying to strengthened the national gender base surveillance system hopefully with the help of PAHO, UNFPA and the ministry of health. we've initiated some discussions on how e can bring back the whole analysis of the gender base violence surveillance information that's coming out of the ministry of health because when the raw data is put forth people don't tend to understand necessarily what it is saying, they might see the numbers going up and they may immediately react and say well it means that the problem is getting worse when really when you are looking at statistics its base on reported cases so it's actually that the amount of reporting has increase and not necessarily that the incident has increase so its activities and campaigns such as 16 days of activism that helps to educate the public on what's happening in Belize."
Andrea Polanco
"Well I know that across the Caribbean there has been significant work being done in terms of highlighting these incidents and making people aware people aware but there is still a high number of violent acts that take place against women would you say this is the same case in Belize and why?"
Icilda Humes, Director - Women's Department
"It's generally the same across the Caribbean and hence the reason for UNDFW (United Nation Development Fund for Women) initiating a 2 year regional project call the 'Strengthening State Accountability and Community Action for ending gender base violence" in the Caribbean and through this project the Women's department has been able to develop a national gender base violence action plan for the next 3 years, through this project we are also developing a new domestic violence protocol and a sexual violence protocol, those will be completed towards the end of this year so the problem is generally the same it also depends on the population size and you will recognized that there is significant under reporting that's happening in Belize hence the reason for us accelerating our advocacy work during the 16 days of activism to get more people involve so that they can become aware of their rights and so that they can seek help."
The campaign's official opening ceremonies and March will be held tomorrow at the Yabra Green Basketball court at 2:30. In addition to the other activities, a free legal clinic on gender-based violence and family issues will be held Saturday at the UWI Auditorium at 9:00am.
