Belmopan Launches 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence

In a show of solidarity and commitment to ending violence against women and girls, Belize officially launched the 16 Days of Activism today. The National Women’s Commission (NWC) and the Belmopan City Council came together for the opening of the campaign Against Gender-Based Violence. The event, held at the Guanacaste roundabout, marked the beginning of a global movement aimed at raising awareness, mobilizing action, and driving policy change to address and end gender-based violence. President of the National Women’s Commission, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, the guest speaker, underscored that while the social ill remains a plague in Belize, citizens can do their part to change the narrative for future generations. 

Thea Garcia, President, NWC: “In a country or a less developed country such as ours, it’s one in three women who will be, have been, or are currently in a situation where they suffer gender-based or domestic violence or intimate partner violence. Violence has many forms. People over the years and over generations have become very, very adept and very, how should I say, they’ve certainly known how to evolve and make violence into different forms. So the easiest to recognize, of course, is physical violence. But and of course, sexual abuse, but there is also financial abuse. There is also emotional and psychological abuse which I believe is even worse than the physical violence sometimes because those are the things that stay with you your entire life, that shape and mold you in ways that you don’t realize until much later why it is that you act the way you do or you react the way you do. It’s really because of all of the psychological and emotional abuse.” 

Belmopan Mayor Pablo Cawich also spoke at the event, reaffirming the City Council’s commitment to working alongside the National Women’s Commission and other organizations to address gender-based violence in all its forms.

Pablo Cawich, Mayor, City of Belmopan: “Today, we unite with communities and nations worldwide to amplify a crucial message. Violence against women and girls has no place in our homes, workplace, communities, or society at large. Belize has made strides in addressing gender-based violence, but we are actually aware that the work is far from over. Statistics and stories remind us that too many still suffer in silence and too many lives are disrupted by the cycle of violence. These 16 days are not just a symbolic moment, they are a call to action, a reminder that every effort, no matter how small, contributes to creating safer, more equitable spaces for all. We are privileged to have in attendance this morning an esteemed group of leaders and advocates who through their respective roles have consistently championed the rights of women and girls. Your commitment underscores the importance of collaboration. civil society and international partners working hand in hand to build a Belize that truly values and protects all its citizens. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the resilience and courage of survivors who stand as beacons of hope and strength. Their voices and stories are at the heart of this campaign.”

The 16 Days of Activism, which runs from November 25th to December 10th, is observed annually.