Women’s Month Initiatives Announced Under the theme: “Inspire Inclusion, Count Her In.”

The Month of March is celebrated as Women’s Month in Belize and the National Women’s Commission has planned a series of events for this year’s observance. Throughout the month there will be a social media campaign on domestic violence as well as an online survey on cervical cancer and Pap smear screening within several municipalities. There are also various one-off events planned in various districts. Eleanor Murillo, Program Officer at the National Women’s Commission, spoke with Love News about the initiatives and what the month represents for women in Belize. 

Eleanore Murillo, Program Officer, National Women’s Commission: “So Belize celebrates Women’s Month in March of each year annually, the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8th but because we’re so special we need a whole month and it’s not only celebration but it’s also to take stock of what’s going on and look at the areas where we need to improve. So besides the celebratory type of events we also include information and education, a lot of education across the country primarily for women and girls but we also have activities across the country where anyone can participate in as well. And so Women’s Month is really to celebrate the achievements of women over so many years and where we came from historically  women have always been like second class citizens you know ? A hundred years or so ago we couldn’t work, we couldn’t vote, we couldn’t you know all these things and so now we’re happy now that we have advanced the women’s agenda and now women are able to do a lot of these things. They work, they lead, they still have their families and so on. So it’s to celebrate but also to take stock of the issues that continue to plague us as women.”

Murillo also said that the events planned are inclusive as the support of men is paramount to the advancement of women.

Eleanore Murillo, Program Officer, National Women’s Commission: “The theme for this year is “Inspire Inclusion, Count Her In.” and we’re saying we want everyone so we don’t try to choose themes that is just woman based. We’re saying everybody should be inspiring another human being. So Inspire Inclusion Count Her In. We want more women at the table and at the decision making level right? We want the girls to have a voice to be able to speak up as well and so this theme is very inclusive and so everyone can be a part of it as I said all the different forums, conversations and so on how can we do better as a society because we have a lot going on and it’s a lot of negative so while good things are happening while our women are getting their education, are leading in some aspects of the country you know we still have a lot of issues and barriers that face women and girls. Like with everything else we have supportive men who are advocates, who are supporters of the work we do. Yesterday Miray’s Ministry led one of our activities where we had an Ecumenical service and I was very happy to see many men participating in that so it was not a full house of women. It was a full house of women and men. Women don’t want to become men and women don’t want to take away the power you know we want to work hand in hand with our men and so men we want ment as allies, as supporters and we support them as well.”

Notably, all districts have an event planned for International Women’s Day being celebrated on March 8. The calendar of events can be found at the National Women’s Commission’s Facebook page.