But while more women are speaking out, more women are also being abused and killed. There were 865 cases of domestic violence reported last year and up to June of this year, there have been 455 reported cases. There is no tally of how many women have been killed by their spouses this year but we know Racquel Requena is one of them. And in memory of women like Racquel Requena, Mayor Zenaida Moya and WIN-Belize today unveiled a new monument in the Constitution Park. WIN Belize’s Carolyn Reynolds says it’s in memory of all the women who have been killed.
Carolyn Reynolds,
“It’s really in memory of women who have died from domestic violence and for those who died from illnesses related to HIV and Aids. And so we want this to be here in remembrance of them when people pass through the park, or if at anytime women who feel like they need to come to terms with someone who has passed away from domestic violence, that this is somewhere they can come to be at peace.”
Keith Swift,
Explain the two colors.
Carolyn Reynolds,
“Because we look at the link between gender based violence and HIV/Aids. Because a lot of people would want to know what is the link when we say the link and that is because women who are abused, women who are experiencing domestic abuse, are more at risk of contracting HIV/Aids because domestic violence is all about power and control and so when they are not in control, they don’t have that power to resist their partners from having sex with them and so they can contract HIV/Aids at that time.”
The monument was funded by the United Nations’ Food and Population Agency. The torch run meanwhile continues on to San Pedro tomorrow. Its journey will end in Corozal on December 1st which is World Aids Day.
