ADVOCACY WORK
Letter to the Director General of the Statistical Institute of Belize
As Belize prepares for the Census 2020, there is a possibly that an opportunity for national data regarding Rainbow Families will be missed. The experiences of Rainbow Families, in Belize, and the diversity and complexity of family structures have evolved and Our Circle fully believes that the Census 2020 is the platform to gather and disseminate this information.
Our Advocacy Team has put together a document with recommendations the SIB team may utilize in order to be able to truly reflect the Belizean population.
Our Advocacy Team has put together a document with recommendations the SIB team may utilize in order to be able to truly reflect the Belizean population.
Our Circle Submission Regarding LGBT Inclusion in Upcoming Census 2020 | |
File Size: | 327 kb |
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Letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Board
The Social Security System was set up to ensure that all Belizeans have a right in society, so that sickness, economic distress, or old age will not make us outcasts. However, further inclusion is needed to properly devise a system which truly caters to all persons and families in Belize, including LGBT families. LGBT families and the diversity and complexity of family structures have evolved and we fully believe that that the time has come to extend the benefits the Social Security Scheme provided to reflect the changing face of the Belizean workers and Belizean families.
Our Advocacy Team has put together a document with recommendations to the SSB may utilize in order to be able to revamp the Socail Security Act in order to truly protect all Belizeans and their families.
Our Advocacy Team has put together a document with recommendations to the SSB may utilize in order to be able to revamp the Socail Security Act in order to truly protect all Belizeans and their families.
Submission regarding LGBT Inclusion for Social Security Benefits | |
File Size: | 445 kb |
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Stakeholders Meeting With COmmissioner of Police
CSO representatives met with the new Commissioner of the Belize Police Department, Mr Chester Williams, in Belmopan. The participants were provided an opportunity to discuss issues related to community policing, and rule of law in order to understand the mechanisms in place to foster healthy engagements with each other. The discussion reassured the assistance to each other in order to strengthen the mechanisms already in place to effectively collaborate with each other.
Stakeholders Meeting with the Commissioner of Police | |
File Size: | 324 kb |
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Submission on Importance of Language to Include Diverse Families
The year 2019 has been instrumental in the advancement of human rights for vulnerable communities in Belize. With the development of the Anti-Discrimination Bill and the revision of the Families and Children’s Act, in lieu of Human Rights Day 2019, made the following submission to the Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee and the National Children and Families Committee, around the language being used in the drafting and revision process was submitted by the Our Circle Team.
Submission on Language Used to Include Diverse Families | |
File Size: | 805 kb |
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Call for the Inclusion of LGBT Persons into Belize’s National Gender Based Violence Referral Pathway
On behalf of the LGBT community our entities serve, Our Circle, United Belize Advocacy Movement and the LGBT Safety and Security Team (Belize), we are making a submission to the National Women's Commission, for an urgent appeal to create an inclusive platform which allows for the protection of LGBT persons from Gender Based Violence, especially Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
After having studied, trying to access and being denied service on several parts of the GBV Pathway, especially during COVID-19’s State of Emergency, we the aforementioned have identified systemic biases as well as documented recommendations which collectively can rectify these issues.
We do hope that by acknowledging the problem and considering our solutions, together, we can truly improve the country’s ability to respond to the diverse forms of Gender Based Violences.
After having studied, trying to access and being denied service on several parts of the GBV Pathway, especially during COVID-19’s State of Emergency, we the aforementioned have identified systemic biases as well as documented recommendations which collectively can rectify these issues.
We do hope that by acknowledging the problem and considering our solutions, together, we can truly improve the country’s ability to respond to the diverse forms of Gender Based Violences.
Submission on the Inclusion of LGBT Persons in Belize's GBV Response | |
File Size: | 518 kb |
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PRESS RELEASE - 2020 TIME TO "VOTE WITH PRIDE"
Веlіzе Тrаnѕ Соlоrѕ (ВТС), Веlіzе Yоuth Еmроwеrmеnt fоr Сhаngе (ВYЕС), Еmроwеr Yоurѕеlf Веlіzе Моvеmеnt (ЕYВМ), Рrоmоtіng Еmроwеrmеnt Тhrоugh Аwаrеnеѕѕ fоr Lеѕ/Ві Wоmеn (РЕТАL), Оur Сіrсlе (ОС), Тrаnѕ Іn Асtіоn Веlіzе (ТІАВеlіzе), Unіtеd Веlіzе Аdvосасу Моvеmеnt (UnіВАМ), lаunсhеd thе “Vоtе wіth Рrіdе” саmраіgn аѕ а mеаnѕ оf еduсаtіng LGВТ соmmunіtу mеmbеrѕ аnd thеіr fаmіlіеѕ оn реrtіnеnt іѕѕuеѕ rеlаtеd tо vоtіng аnd mоbіlіzіng thеm tо саѕt а vоtе іn thе ѕсhеdulеd Nоvеmbеr 11 gеnеrаl еlесtіоnѕ.
"No matter how we feel about politics and politicians, the fact is they’re the ones making profound decisions affecting each of us. They decide economic policies that determine how much money we have left each month for education, rent, groceries, and medications. They play a massive role in the lives of LGBT people and whether our families are recognized and treated fairly."
"No matter how we feel about politics and politicians, the fact is they’re the ones making profound decisions affecting each of us. They decide economic policies that determine how much money we have left each month for education, rent, groceries, and medications. They play a massive role in the lives of LGBT people and whether our families are recognized and treated fairly."
Joint Press Release - 2020 Time to Vote With Pride | |
File Size: | 133 kb |
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LGBT Leaders Meet With People's United Party Leader - Hon John Briceno
There was an informal meeting held between the LGBT Leaders and the Party Leader of the People's United Party to discuss issues related to the upcoming 2020 Election. Through this meeting, the LGBT Leaders were able to identify the People’s United Party’s position on three main LGBTQ issues that have been highlighted through the #VoteWithPride Campaign:
- lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBTQ) women and families;
- Equal Opportunity Bill (EOB), and
- violence reduction and safety of the LGBT community.
- lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBTQ) women and families;
- Equal Opportunity Bill (EOB), and
- violence reduction and safety of the LGBT community.
LGBT Leaders Meet with PUP's John Briceno | |
File Size: | 699 kb |
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LGBT Leaders Meet With Belize People's Front Party Leader - Mrs Nancy Marin
There was an informal meeting held between the LGBT Leaders and the Party Leader of the Belize People's Front Party to discuss issues related to the upcoming 2020 Election. Through this meeting, the LGBT Leaders were able to identify the Belize People's Front's position on three main LGBTQ issues that have been highlighted through the #VoteWithPride Campaign:
- lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBTQ) women and families;
- Equal Opportunity Bill (EOB), and
- violence reduction and safety of the LGBT community.
- lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBTQ) women and families;
- Equal Opportunity Bill (EOB), and
- violence reduction and safety of the LGBT community.
LGBT Leader Meeting with BPF's Nancy Marin | |
File Size: | 680 kb |
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PRESS RELEASE - Congratulations to the Hon. Johnny Briceno and His New AdministratioN
Today, the LGBTQ community stand with thousands of Belizeans – people fighting for equity and justice, feminists, immigrants, youth, and other people of good conscience—to congratulate the People’s United Party, in winning majority seats in November 2020’s General Election.
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