Rising Wave of Gender-Based Violence Shakes Belize

The Belizean community is reeling from the recent spate of gender-based violence, specifically intimate partner violence which globally affects one in three women according to UN women data. In Belize, a 2012 survey commissioned by the Ministry of Human development and conducted in  Orange Walk, Dangriga and the Belize Districts shows that one in every three women were also affected by violence. 

Lately, we all know their names and their stories…On October 4, Shaniele Faber, 42, a mother was murdered and her limbs were severed. October 11,  Keyra Gentle, 25  was killed in a murder suicide, October 20, Angelita Briceno Magana, 34, a mother was set on fire and on October 22, her daughter, Shadia who suffered burns IN THE ARSON passed away.      

During a media briefing on Monday, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stacy Smith commented on the unfortunate incident which Angelita Briceno Magana’s ex-common-law husband is responsible for and why she was unable to obtain a restraining order against him. 

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “Mr. Godoy has been charged before in relation to an offence against Ms. Magana, namely harm, and he was convicted. As a matter of fact it was just last week Thursday I have been advised that he was released having pled guilty to the harm against Ms. Magana. I’ve also been advised that Ms. Magana sought to obtain a restraining order on Friday however due to the time that she reached the court house this was not able to have been facilitated.”

Renee Wentz, Marriage and Family Therapist says serious offences like attempted murder and rape should never be bailable.

Renee Wentz, Marriage and Family Therapist: “He already had pled guilty,  my understanding, to an assault that happened to her. And he also had an outstanding uh charge of rape of her.  So he pled guilty to assault. Why he was released and  he  was released on bail  for this  crime of rape against her that he had been arrested for and that was the tiny window that he was released on?  And then she had to come, I guess, from her village, which was apparently quite far from Orange Walk, to get in. This was a longstanding violent relationship, apparently.  And  many people commented, why didn’t she just leave him? Why didn’t she leave ? She had left this man a long time ago.  She had already started another life.  And they were not together. So what else do we want people to do? 

Ann Marie, Reporter: “From my experience working with the Antigua and Barbuda Center and the women’s department there, I know that even if it’s after four, after 10, after 11 in the night, you could still get a restraining order. What’s your take on that, how we do things?” 

Renee Wentz, Marriage and Family Therapist: “Yes, we feel like, I think in this country, everything closes when five o’clock rolls around. Everybody goes home and everything ends.  We need to have through the police department some kind of emergency services. The police force is open 24-7.  And so there should be some kind of emergency  service to the police at the very least that you can get  an emergency  order  that then, yes, you come in to the police, I mean, to the court when the court is open.

Belize has signed onto the Convention on the Elimination of ALL Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which along with its special recommendation on Violence government should use to protect all women from violence. However, Wentz feels that government as a duty bearer is not doing enough to protect women.

Renee Wentz, Marriage and Family Therapist: “ I think we have a lot more to do and I think we have to look at what our feelings are, where we are missing connections. I think we don’t have enough overlap, where there’s too many gaps, where people are falling through the cracks,  and we need to make the connections between the different departments and the different areas where those things are lacking. I think we need to do a much better job.”

LOVE NEWS contacted Minister of Gender Affairs, Thea Garcia with no luck however, Foreign Minister Fonseca weighed in on the way forward this morning when he appeared on The Morning Show.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “What more can we do? How can we make sure that the services that we provide as a government are improved, enhanced, so that we provide better support to people in abusive relationships. The cabinet instructed the Minister of Human Development to bring a paper to cabinet with some thoughts and ideas. How can we help the police? A big challenge there is the police, improving their capacity to deal with these issues. We have a Domestic Violence Unit, but obviously they need more support. We need enhanced capacity to deal with these very, very difficult issues. But I want certainly the Belizean people to know that as a cabinet, as a government, that we have been discussing these issues and we are aware of the importance of these issues, and we are looking at ways and recommendations to see how we can do our part. Because these are complex issues that involve the entire society. It’s not just government. This is about society. How can we as a society do more? But government, of course, we have a duty and obligation to look at our responsibilities.”