The Women's Department celebrates its 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence annually.
The tradition is that It kicks off with a march through the city streets - bringing awareness to issues women face on a daily basis.
Today 7news spoke with Human Development Coordinator, Cynthia Williams about how you can take a stand:
Cynthia Williams - Human Development Coordinator, Women's Department
"We just wanted to come and invited the general public to the opening ceremonies and the march for 16 days of Activism campaign. Every year, we have these opening ceremonies to really bring to an opening, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. It is a worldwide campaign which started since 1991, and it really brings efforts locally and internationally to raise more awareness of violence against women, especially in looking at violations of women's rights as a violation of human rights as well. And so, it's really an opportunity for, not only those who are working in this sector to come out and participate, but also to the general community. We feel that it is important that every Belizean take action, as we strive toward the elimination of violence against women. This year's theme is 'Unite to End Violence Against Women and Children'. It is very central to another campaign in which the Department is also a part of, which is the orange unite campaign, which also brings awareness to the issue. It is a United Nations Campaign which was opened in 2008 by the Secretary General to really highlight and ensure that everybody is contribution for legislation and policies to be brought forward and created to ensure that we work toward the elimination of violence against women and girls. We felt that it was important to include children because we know that there is an issue where our boys are also being affected. It is a call to action for all Belizeans. The route of the march is that we'll be going down Mahogany Street Extension, Cemetery Road, Orange, Mosul, Vernon Streets, the Belchina Bridge, North Front Street, and then ending at Memorial Park."
The theme for this year's 16 Days of Activism is: "United to end Violence against women and children".
