Flag-Raising Ceremony and March Opens 16 Days of Activism in Belize City

This morning, a flag-raising ceremony in Belize City marked the official start of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, a nationwide campaign focused on raising awareness and strengthening prevention efforts.

In Belize, sixteen symbolic flags were raised, each representing a day of activism and honouring survivors of gender-based violence. The display served as both a reminder of the lives affected and a call to collective action. This year’s campaign is being observed under the theme “Prevent to Protect: Ending Gender-Based Violence Begins With Us.”

Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller led the Belize City Council’s delegation at the ceremony, joining Minister Thea Garcia-Ramirez, representatives from the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, the National Women’s Commission, and members of the Child Advisory Body and the Youth Shadow Council.

Following the flag-raising, leaders, activists, students, and citizens marched from the Civic Centre to the House of Culture in solidarity with the movement. 

The City Council reaffirmed its commitment to “standing, marching, advocating, and working toward a safer Belize, one where women, men, boys, and girls are empowered, protected, and free from gender-based violence.”

Minister Garcia-Ramirez urged the public to take reports of abuse seriously, saying, “We need to keep it on the front burner, so to speak… try to educate the public where they can get services, where they can call, who they can reach out to. And most importantly, that we report. Leaving a comment on Facebook is not reporting.”

Student advocates also voiced their concerns. One told News Five, “Social media is very active. We can post things and flyers that basically list things that we should follow and things that we should look out for. Even if our peers are there, and they seem fine, things can always be happening… Pay attention to the little signs.”

Over the past five years, more than 19,000 cases of femicide have been reported across Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the latest figures from ECLAC’s Gender Equality Observatory.