Women’s Economic Empowerment Highlighted at 16 Days of Activism Finale

A roundtable discussion and members’ luncheon focused on Women’s Economic Empowerment marked the culmination of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Government leaders, private-sector partners, development agencies, and women advocates gathered to examine the direct link between economic empowerment and the prevention of gender-based violence, while developing actionable recommendations to strengthen Belize’s national strategy on protection and prevention.  Keynote speaker Lysandra “Dita” Berbey, founder of Power Works Consultancy and NIME board member, delivered a powerful address on the role that both economic and social empowerment play in preventing gender-based violence. She emphasized that creating pathways to independence for women not only supports survivors but also tackles systemic factors that allow abuse to persist, calling for deeper collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector to expand opportunities for women nationwide.

Lysandra Berbey, Board Member, NIME: “We cannot speak about gender-based violence without speaking about power. Who has it? Who controls it? And who is denied of it? Economic dependence, limited access to opportunities, voices silent in decision-making, social systems that fail to protect. These are not minor inconveniences. These are conditions of vulnerability engineered by inequity. That is why today’s discussion is so critical. Because women’s economic empowerment is not about income. It is about freedom. Freedom to make choices. Freedom to leave unsafe situations. Freedom to build businesses, lead communities, and shape the future we want for our women.  A woman who is financially empowered does not ask for permission to survive. She stands grounded in her worth. She negotiates differently. She walks away differently. She raises her children differently. Her presence shifts the atmosphere in her home, her community and her country. That is why we are here today.”

Dynamic panel discussions explored economic independence as a critical tool for GBV prevention, featuring Jessie Young, founder of the Community Baboon Sanctuary, and Nicolyn Raymond, founder of Inner Peace Financials. Panelists unpacked the realities of emotional and financial abuse, explaining how economic dependence can trap women in unsafe relationships. Raymond stressed the importance of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and strong support networks to help women gain the confidence and resources needed to exit abusive situations. Discussions highlighted how financial control often begins subtly through restricted access to money, coerced debt, or interference with employment, ultimately eroding a woman’s independence.  Dr. Minerva Pinelo of NIME shared updates on upcoming projects slated for 2026, including expanded programming targeting financial abuse, which remains one of the most overlooked yet damaging forms of gender-based violence.

Dr. Minerva Pinelo, CoFounder, NIME: “Many of the abuse could start as financial abuse as we heard today and it could be someone not having access to her own money, someone being blocked from certain assets. And so these are red flags for us to actually look at but also as women in business maybe through our own brands we can employ women who are in vulnerable spaces or we can help those who design programs to think about how best to do these aspects for psychosocial support referral pathways and and really work towards that financial independence. For us, it really means that as of January, 2026, with the support from IDB we will be able to launch a program named “Catalyze Her”. The trainees will come in, enroll in a number of trainings. They will work with mentors and at the end they can make a pitch for seed capital, because the money is important if we are to help them and make these actionable changes.”

The forum also featured an interactive self-awareness session led by Lucia Ellis, who guided participants through exercises focused on grounding techniques, reclaiming personal voice, and identifying early warning signs of abuse. Organizers say the roundtable strengthened multi-sector collaboration and amplified the national call for prevention, protection, and empowerment as Belize officially closed this year’s 16 Days of Activism. The event was hosted by NIME Belize in partnership with the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, together with the Office of the Special Envoy for Families and Children.  The closing coincides with International Human Rights Day.