E-Library

The National Gender Policy (2024-2030) builds on the achievements of the 2013 Policy. Itfocuses on the gaps and areas for further action in each of the six areas of health, education,wealth and employment creation, gender-based violence, women in power and decisionmaking and organizational systems strengthening.

It is important that we take note of all their contributions and use this momentum tore-energize our efforts in the path that leads to women’s empowerment and the respect of their human rights. This year’s theme, Inspire Inclusion: Count Her In challenges us to inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion thereby forging a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. It also celebrates the tremendous efforts by Belizean women and girls in breaking barriers in the health, education, leadership in the public and private sectors.

The Official Countrywide calendar of events for this year's Women's month. Get to Know where in your area you can be a part of the festivities as we celebrate Women's Month

The National Women's Commission compilation booklet of all the women that were awarded at the 18th Annual Outstanding Women's Awards. The booklet contains each person's Biography summarizing their wonderful and hardworking dedication to service.

Consultancy to Define an Essential Package of Services for Women and Girls subject to violence in Belize and to support the strengthening of the response and coordination mechanism in tandem with the Strategic Plan for the National Women’s Commission.

The Official 2022 Calendar of Events for 16 Days of Activism. Get to Know where in your area you can be a part of the festivities as continue our fight again Violence against Women and Girls.

This document provides instructions for trained case workers and social workers in Belize to report gender-based violence, along with phone numbers of clinics, hotlines, and other support services for women and victims of GBV.

Recognizing that many organizations may want to be moreinvolved, the National Women’s Commission adapted this resource packetspecifically for use during 16 Days of Activism Campaign aiming to raiseawareness about 16 Days of Activism and efforts to combat GBV. Additionally, ithopes that ideas found in the Resource Package will help with the advocacy forthe elimination of all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in public andprivate spheres through a united voice.

This resource packet includes easy-to-use resources to allow everyone to participate in this international movement for the elimination of Gender Based Violence. Its use is welcomed and encourage, and it is our sincere hope is that this resource packet helps to support our partners and stakeholders – government,non-government, and private sector to join in the observance of the 16 Days of Activism Observance. We encourage the distribution of the resource packet asyou see fit. The resource packet includes suggested activities on how to get involved. A full Calendar of Activities will also be developed with activitiesbeing organized throughout the country and shared nationally closer to November25.

‍

Every year for the 16 Days of Activism, The National Women's Commission introduces its Calendar of Activities. Everyone is welcome to be apart of any of these activities happening in your area. Lets join together and End Gender-Based Violence.

National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan: A Multi-sectoral Plan to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence in Belize 2017 - 2020

“Effective coordination of a multi-sectoral GBV response in Belize based on an approach of human rights, gender justice and zero tolerance where women, men, girls and boys live free of all forms of gender violence.”

The Revised National Gender Policy is more than a document which articulates government’s commitments. It should also lead to real changes in the lives of women and men, girls and boys.

Gender equality and equity mean that women will gain the right to equal pay and employment opportunities; freedom from domestic and sexual violence; a real voice in politics and much more. Meeting the objectives of the Policy will finally recognize women as full partners in Belize’s development.

‍

This Belize CGA is an update of the 2011 assessment commissioned by CDB, which has been prepared based on public policy documents, available statistics, and interviews and focus group discussions with technical experts in Belize, to assist in the planning, development and implementation of gender-responsive interventions to promote poverty reduction and economic growth. 

Aims to advance and promote a vision where gender inequality and inequity in Belize is a thing of the past.

Recognizing the lack of progress in achieving gender balance in Belize’s decision making bodies led the United Nations Development Program (UNDP-°©‐Belize) and the National Women’s Commission to launch a collaborative initiative to update and expand the analysis of gender and politics in Belize and develop a renewed advocacy strategy informed by this analysis. This report documents the first stage in that process.

Sexual violence is still taboo in Belize. Its existence is often denied and its impacts are often ignored. The Women’s Department remains committed to championing the fight against sexual violence in Belize through the enforcement of laws and policies, education on social justices and provision of support services.

Globally, March 8 is observed as International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the achievements of women in the world and to inspire them to continue their fight for gender equality and women’s rights.

In 2001, the NWC undertook its first situation analysis of gender issues in Belize. The situation analysis was used to develop Belize’s National Gender Policy (2002). To ensure that the provisions of the Policy remain relevant, this situational analysis of gender issues was commissioned in 2009. It is expected that this 2009 situation analysis will not only outline the current situation but also to contribute to the updating of Belize’s National Gender Policy (2002).

‍

Women in the Caribbean have made incremental gains towards the achievement of gender equity, particularly since the first UN Decade for Women. This has taken place in the areas of legislation, social policy, labour market participation and increased access to public resources such as secondary and tertiary education and health care. however, there are continuing challenges to the full attainment of the goal of gender equity... In addition, there are new threats to the wellbeing of Caribbean men and women and children, chief among these the rising incidence of crime and violence, the unrelenting spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the impact of natural disasters.

This handbook is intended to offer a basic guide to the rights of Belizean women. If you wish to know more about your rights you should speak to an Officer of the Women’s Department, or better still, an Attorney.

‍

Overall Goal: To advance the achievement of gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment in Belize.

Key Principles: Gender Equality, Gender Equity, Women's Empowerment

Belize is signatory to a number of international commitments in regards to the elimination of gender-based violence. This plan has been developed with these commitments in mind. The aim is to ensure that over the next five years Belize moves towards the goals and objectives of the leading documents in these areas, namely the Millennium Development Goals, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Outcomes Document, the Commonwealth Plan of Action and the CARICOM Regional Plan of Action.

An agenda forwomen’s empowerment, that looks at strategies for women’s empowerment andadvancement including the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion andbelief, therefore contributing to the moral, ethical, spiritual andintellectual needs of women and men, individually or in community with othersand guaranteeing them the possibility of realizing their full potential insociety and shaping their lives in accordance with their own aspirations.

The Global Framework set the scene as in 1995 and then leads into 12 Critical Areas of Concerns each of which is broken down into its Strategic Objectives and Actions.

Legally binding International Convention which defines what constitutes as discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.