The National Women’s Commission with funding from UNFPA under the Spotlight Initiative – a joint initiative of the European Union and the United Nations in Belize to end violence against women and girls - will be supporting the process to define an Essential Service Package for Women and Girls subject to Violence in Belize and support the National Women’s Commission to set its strategic direction in an effort to lead the coordination and governance of coordination responsibilities under the ESP Framework.
As such, a Programme Assistant is needed to support the implementation of this short-term project. The Programme Assistant will effectively and efficiently provide coordination and administrative support to the National Women’s Commission.
The contract of this employment will be for a period of five (5) months;The Programme Assistant will begin work on August 15, 2022
Interested and qualified applicants can apply for the position via email to:
adminassistant.nwc@humandev.gov.bz under the REFERENCE:PROGRAMME ASSISTANT Persons are to submit the following documents:
a. Cover letter
b. Detailed resume
c. Copy of Social Security Card
d. Two letters of recommendation
e. Copy of your educational qualifications
f. COVID-19 Vaccination Card
Consultancy to Define an Essential Package of Service for Women and Girls subject to violence in Belize and support the development of a Strategic Framework for the National Women’s Commission. The Consultant will be expected to interact both physically and virtually as needed with NWC staff, and other key partners and resource persons such as, but not limited to, National Gender and Gender Based Violence Committee, UNFPA Technical Team, the Spotlight Technical Team; therefore, must have good access to virtual communications services. NWC will provide support to the consultant in arrangement of meeting venues for validation sessions.
For those person/s interested in the Gender Advocate Volunteer attached please find the Application Form that can be submitted with all additional information e.g. curriculum vitae, references etc.
Kindly print the form,fill out, scan and email to: adminassistant.nwc@humandev.gov.bz
STRENGTHENING THE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE RESPONSE THROUGH GENDER ADVOCATES IN BELIZE
Belize has not conducted a country wide Gender-based Violence (GBV) Survey, but there was a pilot study in two districts (Orange Walk and Stann Creek) in 2015. This study suggested that more than half of all women reported that they had been abused or physically disciplined before the age of 16, and that 22.2% of women had experienced physical abuse and/or sexual abuse by their current partner or a previous partner. However, the study also found that “…the incidence of physical violence by a partner is significantly higher than that of the 22.2% who reported it.” The survey concludes that “With more than 1 in 5 women being victims of domestic violence, and more than 1 in 5 witnessing their mothers being abused by their partners growing up, this is a serious concern for the country of Belize”
Under-reporting leads to an underestimation of GBV figures.[3] Among the reasons for under-reporting are limited availability of services, lack of public awareness and cultural norms that hinder victims to speak out. These factors are particularly pronounced in rural areas.[4]
Of concern to the national response is the absence of immediate services in the rural areas of the country. Belize has around one hundred ninety-six (196) villages and communities spread in some cases far apart from each other and from the main towns which are the center of government services. The GBV survey notes that, women in rural villages with less access to agencies, safe houses, and other resources, and who face fear of being ostracized in their communities if they speak out, may be particularly at risk.
Consultancy to Develop and Cost a National Social and behaviour Change Communication Strategy and Support Implementation of Key Actions Targeting Individuals and Communities to Promote Change in Knowledge, Attitudes, norms and Practices to bring an end to Violence Against Women, Girls and Boys. This Consultancy under the Spotlight Initiative is seeking to develop and cost a national social and behaviour change communication strategy and support implementation of key actions targeting individuals and communities to promote change in knowledge, attitudes, norms and practices to bring an end to violence against women, girls and boys.
Spotlight Initiative Project through the Output 2.1: which focuses on ensuring that key officials at national and/or sub-national levels in all relevant institutions (justice, police, health, social services, etc.)are better able to develop and deliver evidence-based services that prevent and respond to femicide, especially for those groups of women and girls facing multiple forms of discrimination. Specifically, seeking o strengthen institutional capacity of key stakeholders to develop prevention and response programmes for ending sexual violence, including the development and application of normative documents (standards, guidelines, protocols, etc.) on VAWG.
The National Women’s Commission and the Women & Family Support Department, with the support of UNICEF, envisions a cadre of twenty (20) gender advocates in four cluster areas consisting of some rural communities in Orange Walk, Cayo, Belize and Toledo identified by as priority areas from a mapping exercise. The advocates will fulfil five functions: Creating awareness about GBV; Providing basic; information to women about their legal rights and options; Providing immediate assistance (including accompaniment through the legal process) and making the referral to relevant entities, professional services and psychosocial support; Improving reporting on GBV; and Monitoring of “low risk” gender-based violence case. In addition, the project includes a component that seeks to strengthen safe and protective spaces for GBV survivors.
