16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Kicks Off Tomorrow

The annual 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence runs from 25 November to 10 December. This year, the United Nations is focusing on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls, under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”

Gender-based violence remains a serious issue in Belize. According to the Belize Crime Observatory, as of October 2024, police recorded 1,954 domestic violence cases, 1,339 of which involved intimate partners. Women made up 75% of victims, and 67% of cases involved a current or former partner. Nine femicide cases were reported, with most victims of intimate partner violence aged 25 to 39.

Recent violent incidents have shocked Belize, including a mother of four found murdered inside a garbage drum, a deadly home invasion in Belize City that left Delecia Flowers dead and her teenage daughter injured, and the tragic deaths of Angelita Magana and her two kids, who were burnt to death by Magana’s ex-common-law husband in San Felipe Village.

Speaking with News Five, the Executive Director of the National Women’s Commission, Eleanor Murillo, stressed the importance of community action. She said, “One of the things we know is we should never judge that person who is going through that violent and traumatic experience… If you see something, call 911. Don’t take out the phone and record it and put it on Facebook.” She added, “Advocacy comes from everybody. One organisation cannot do it. Everybody has to speak up.”

Globally, one in three women experiences gender-based violence, with online spaces increasingly becoming sites of harassment, threats, and abuse. The UN is calling on governments, tech companies, donors, and individuals to take action to protect women online, remove harmful content, and support survivors.