标签： Belize

Belize City witnessed a powerful display of solidarity as activists, community leaders, and citizens marched through the streets on November 25, 2025, marking the launch of the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s campaign, themed ‘UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,’ highlights the escalating threat of technology-fueled abuse, including cyberbullying, AI-generated deepfakes, and online stalking. These digital attacks often spill into real life, causing physical harm and even death. Shockingly, fewer than 40% of countries have laws addressing cyber harassment, leaving 1.8 billion women and girls unprotected. Belize, while having cyberbullying laws, faces calls to strengthen its legal framework to better safeguard women. Minister of Human Development Thea Garcia-Ramirez emphasized the need for stricter laws and shared responsibility in combating gender-based violence. Belize’s local theme, ‘Prevent to Protect: Ending Gender-Based Violence Begins with Us,’ underscores the urgency of the issue. The campaign’s launch coincided with alarming statistics: 1,454 reported cases of gender-based violence in the first eight months of 2025, with over 1,000 committed by intimate partners and 90% of victims being women. Young girls remain particularly vulnerable, facing daily threats of violence and harassment. Participants in the march, including students Keara Perrera and Jasmin Navarro, voiced their fears and called for greater protection. Keara suggested leveraging social media to raise awareness and educate the public. The Sixteen Days of Activism will continue until December 10, with Belize joining global efforts to end violence against women, both online and offline. The message is clear: ending gender-based violence is a collective responsibility.

Belize has taken a significant step forward in data collection with the launch of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a comprehensive initiative supported by UNICEF. This landmark survey, which involved over 5,000 households, marks the first major update in data for the country in fifteen years. The $1.9 million project, primarily funded by UNICEF, covers 126 indicators across critical areas such as health, education, child protection, and gender equality. Wendy Benavides, a statistician at the Statistical Institute of Belize, highlighted the survey’s innovative inclusion of new topics like foundational learning skills for children aged 7-14, mental health for individuals aged 15-24, reproductive healthcare, child discipline, and attitudes toward domestic violence. The survey employed five distinct questionnaires tailored to different household members, including women aged 15-49, men aged 15-49, and children under 5 and 5-17, with mothers or caregivers responding on behalf of the children. For the first time, children were directly involved in activities measuring reading and arithmetic skills, following parental consent. This extensive data collection aims to provide Belize with robust insights to inform policy-making and track progress in key societal areas.

The Belize Coast Guard is marking a significant milestone this week as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. What began in 2005 as a small team with a grand vision has evolved into a world-class maritime security force. To commemorate this achievement, a special symposium was held, bringing together founding members, senior officers, and international partners. The event not only reflected on two decades of dedicated service but also charted the course for the future of maritime security in Belize. Francis Usher, CEO of the Ministry of Defense, highlighted the remarkable progress of the Coast Guard, attributing its success to consistent government investment, collaboration with various ministries and NGOs, and unwavering support from regional and international allies. Usher also shared a firsthand account of the Coast Guard’s heroic efforts, recounting how they recently saved the lives of four civilians whose vessel was in distress. This story underscored the critical role the Coast Guard plays in safeguarding Belize’s waters and its people. The symposium served as a testament to the organization’s growth and its ongoing commitment to protecting the nation’s maritime interests.

A month after the tragic murder of 35-year-old Delecia Flowers in her Belize City home, her family remains in anguish, grappling with the emotional and psychological toll of her untimely death. Flowers was fatally attacked during a home invasion in late October, which also left her teenage daughter hospitalized with severe head injuries. Her brother, Delroy Moody, expressed the family’s ongoing struggles in an interview with News Five, stating, ‘We are still going through a lot of little tribulations right now.’ Moody revealed that the family has received minimal updates from authorities regarding the investigation, leaving them in the dark. ‘Nobody is saying anything. My mom hasn’t even called or talked to me about it,’ he lamented. Flowers, one of ten siblings, is the second in the family to have passed away. As the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence begins, Moody reflected on the broader societal issue, emphasizing the role of substance abuse in fueling violence. ‘Drugs and alcohol play a big role in it,’ he noted, sharing his personal commitment to non-violence in his own marriage. The family’s plea for justice underscores the urgent need for accountability and support in addressing violent crimes in Belize.