The Police Department in collaboration with the Women's Department held an open day in conjunction with the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence. The event which was aimed at sensitizing the public about gender-based violence saw the participation of schools across the city. Dehanne Williams, Officer in charge of the Community Policing Unit told us that the different branches of the police department had special functions today at the Open Day:
Dehanne Williams, OC Community Policing
"Community policing, we'll tell the community all the roles and function within the police department. They will do a general lecture. When you go to the CIB booth, they will talk about the different sexual offences within our laws. You come to the domestic violence unit booth; they will talk about the domestic violence abuses, the different abuses within domestic violence. With the persecution branch the community has an idea of how the magistrate and the Supreme Court procedures are when it comes to sexual violence."
Andrea Polanco
"I notice you also have some student earlier. Why are they here today?"
Dehanne Williams, OC Community Policing
"When we came up with idea to have this open day, we decided that the young people need to understand the roles and function within the different branches within the police department so we collaborate, they team along with the booth so that they will have an idea. These are not all the branches and units within the police department, but these are the key unit that deals with that so I invited the schools so that they could get an opportunity to learn more."
Student
"I learn that, abusing, sexual abuse, rapes and difficulties that we are having right now in Belize and a lot of things that we hate have to learn and I hope this could stop and we are trying to make a better Belize and I hope it can really work."
Student
"I learn about domestic crime and violence, about how families like to abuse their own families."
Student
"I learn that sexual harassment is dangerous for our youths and we should stop all the crimes and the killings for a safer Belize and a safer generation."
Student
"Miss I learn about sexual violence today because it could stop for the brother to stop chancy the sister and for the father from chancy the mother from rape and if that keeps happen Belize will stay like this for the rest of our life."
Andrea Polanco
"What has the response been like this morning from the community?"
Cynthia Williams, Human Development Officer
"Well base from what they have been coming is asking a lot of questions, I think information that they don't know about and so they are very grateful for some of the information that we were able to provide and especially for our people who don't know when it comes to their rights for women or even for men; what they can do when it comes to custody, what's the procedure that needs to be followed and really just overall information for both men and women and for schools that they know something about self esteem, what are things that they can do, so there are brochures really ranging from different topics not only for men and women but also for the younger persons when it comes to self esteem."
As a part of the 16 Days of Activism, tomorrow the Women's Department will observe World AIDS Day. Across the country a series of presentations, rallies and workshops will be held to raise awareness to tackle HIV prejudice and help stop the spread of HIV.
Email
Print