The Revised National Gender Policy

 

In 2002 Belize developed its first National Gender Policy. The document presents policy commitments according to five priority Policy areas agreed in Belize via national consultations following its participation in the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing). They are Health, Education and skills training, Wealth and Employment Generation, Violence Producing Conditions, Power and Decision-Making.

Gender issues presented in a Situation Analysis of Gender in Belize (2002) and concluding comments of the CEDAW Committee (1999) formed the basis for actions outlined in the National Gender Policy (2002).

At the end of 2008, the National Women’s Commission (NWC) decided to review and validate this National Gender Policy to ensure:
a.) its continued relevance in the Belizean context and
b.) its responsiveness to the CEDAW Committee’s concluding comments (2007).

Since 2002, when the last National Gender Policy was approved, Belize has benefitted from improved programming, service delivery and legislation that support gender equality, equity and women’s empowerment. A scaling up of these initiatives will accelerate the achievement of this national goal and ensure that they remain consistent with both national and international gender-related commitments.

This Revised National Gender Policy 2013, therefore builds on the achievements of the previous Policy. It is based on an updated “Situation Analysis of Gender Issues” in Belize and is aimed at continuing national efforts to achieve gender equality and equity.

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