Engaging Youth in Belize to prevent gender-based violence

The Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), in partnership with the National Women’s Commission with support from the Spotlight Initiative, embarked on a project “Engaging Men and Boys to advance gender equality and help prevent gender-based violence.”

This two-fold project included a “training of trainers” session to empower men and boys to understand the dynamics of gender-based violence and commit to helping end all forms of violence. After successfully completing this segment, participants were invited to facilitate workplace training sessions.  Participants included members from Belize Defence Force, Police Department, Belize Coast Guard, Department of Youth Services and other corporate bodies.

In phase 2 of the project, virtual “training of trainers” sessions were held using a similar format, focusing on engaging youth. Members from 17 youth organizations successfully completed the training sessions.

The next step was to host ten training sessions with youth organizations in Belize. On 23 October 2021, phase 2 of the project facilitated a training session with the Belize City Youth Shadow Council members. The session incorporated themes including gender, self-esteem, masculinity and accountability. It culminated with a semi-formal debate on domestic violence and the law.

The goal of the training sessions was to challenge deep-rooted cultural and social norms that can lead to violence, unpack varying perceptions on gender and empower boys and girls to be a part of the change to realize a gender-equal Caribbean that is free of violence.

Talk (Poem)

There is whispering

That a baby is coming

This type of talk, usually gleeful

Today feels almost evil

 

Yes, there are whispers,

But instead of baby showers

And celebration

There is consternation

There is speculating and postulating

“I wonder who the father is?”,

And “Well, if it was my kids…”

Murmurs in the streets–

About what she did in between the sheets

Ridicule in school–

About how the boy left her like a fool

 

Never-ending

constant judgement

Feeling like eyes are

On her every movement

When will it end?

With the baby’s inducement?

Get the Gist (Poem)

Concerning moral instruction
There is much that needs to be taught to our children
Tools to help develop a concept of positive thinking
Building a foundation on sobriety to support their understanding
Education is important

Lessons to assist with navigating through life will prove salient
Policy pontificates planting seeds of purpose
But action activates actualisation in the youth among us.

To state it simply, talking is not enough
Implementation and pragmatism must lie at the cusp
Some of the best examples we see of prevention policy implementation
Come from our observation of the animal kingdom

On the topic of adolescent pregnancy prevention
Adolescence itself is only a small part of the equation
Policymakers act as parents
Providing a foundation for the youth in this instance
Like the old people in all their wisdom would roar
Prevention is always better than cure
It is vital for us to know
The importance of teaching our young as they grow
Animals do it

So why do we as humans never seem to get the gist?
Empty crocus bag can’t stand up
Therefore we must pour value into our children –
Filling them, edified from bottom to top
Because before belly start to grow
There is much that goes on that you just don’t know
Children without properly constructed value systems
Are more likely to find themselves in compromising situations

In order to prevent such a revelation
Guidance is needed through wisdom and admonition

For example, look at the cheetah
On land, known as a quick and deadly predator
These animals generally go through stages
Cubs, adolescents and adults life through the ages
Despite being a predator, the female cheetah will stay with her young for as long as she could
In most cases, they are together straight into adulthood

This parenting formula
Is to ensure the youth do not fall prey to another predator
Because this parent understands that her child is vulnerable to the elements
And that it is in need of being taught the simple skill of discernment

In the case of the eagle, bird with majesty
High flight, speed, strength and beauty
So many qualities of richness to uncover
As a result, they teach their young the keys in keeping with that demeanour
Before eagles start to teach their young about flying
They ensure they know the concept of flapping

Gripped firmly to the nest, wings spread
And wind resistance will promote movement
That understanding is vital information to be taught
Before the lesson of flight to the nest is brought

The same concept applies to children
Values are to be instilled from an early age within them
Stand by their side, support and nurture
Help with the building of qualities promoting resilience in character

If animals understand it
That means we as humans could get this gist

Another topic
One where there is a lot for us as humans to mimic
Is that teaching is not all that there is
In most cases, the environment can determine the promise
Of either torment or bliss
Parents must be aware of where they place their child
One wrong decision can cause grief beyond the boundaries mild

Imagine putting your child in the arms of a predator
And you there, open and trusting – none the wiser
Vigilance is a huge part of the prevention strategy
Understanding the qualities that comes with the territory

Rock-a-bye baby on the treetop
When the wind blows the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

That is what we sing
And no doubt promoting
Meanwhile, the eagle is building her nest out of harm’s way, away from predators
And we as humans put our children on the branches of impending danger

A turtle will lay its eggs in holes for protection
A chicken will sit on its nest for 21 days like a watchman
The animals seem to know it
So why can’t we get the gist?

Environment is important
To that understanding, we cannot afford to be resistant
If you are situated in a location where danger is imminent
Protection by herding is recommended and salient

Look at an elephant
Babies are quite vulnerable to predators on the hunt
So adults would create a barrier to secure its protection

No doubt – strategies coming out of experience and wisdom
Creating a wall-like stampede, scaring predators off
Intended to protect the promise of their young at all cost
And if animals could understand all this
Why is it so difficult for us as humans to get the gist?

Instead, we singing rock-a-bye baby,
With our children up in a tree
If we continue with this mentality
Pregnancy prevention will become an alien concept, completely
In fact, a hands-off approach might just be promoting the opposite
But programmes promoting action are things from which many can profit

Animals already seem to understand it
Now it is our turn as humans to get the gist.

Sophia (Poem)

Selfish! Apathetic! Immoral!

These were her labels as a teenage mother.

Her tears were never enough,

Even though they filled every corner of that dark square

She slumbered for many summers.

Nine months of anguish, she never asked for.

Only for a man she never knew, to decide that faith for her.

Taking a trip down memory lane to that marvellous night.

She was singing, She was dancing, Her soul was so bright.

But like a shadow, he came and made her float as high as a kite

She tried to come down but the winds were too strong

She tried to make a sound, but like a birthday candle

Her voice was burnt out.

Only 16, she had big dreams

To live in a big old city

To complete her medical degree

To be free like how any other teenage girl should be.

She is Sophia, a fighter, a feminist, a woman living more than her dreams

She lives in me and every other teenager listening to her story

Young girls

Protect each other, lift each other

Say no to peer pressure

Say no to drugs

Unintentional or not, be percipient, be streetwise

Join educational clubs

And let’s end child pregnancy for once.

Collaboration to Improve Transgender Medical Education

Researchers from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in collaboration with Butterfly Barbados (a local transgender civil society organisation), conducted a qualitative research project exploring the views and perceptions of medical educators regarding transgender health in March 2021.

The work was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Small Grants Programme and sought to identify ways to expand transgender health coverage in Caribbean medical curricula and improve transgender care delivery.

The findings will be used to inform curriculum planning and development at Cave Hill in the coming academic year. For further information, contact Dr Michael Campbell – Michael.Campbell@cavehill.uwi.edu

SASOD Guyana Hosts Second 592 Virtual Pride due to COVID-19

Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana) hosted the 592 Virtual Pride 2021 for a second year in succession due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The one-week virtual festival provided a safe, online space for LGBTQ+ people and allies to celebrate their successes and achievements while also providing an opportunity to reach out to the wider Guyanese community and diaspora to educate them about issues affecting sexual and gender minorities in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The event, which was held under the theme #LiveOutProud, commenced on June 7, marking SASOD Guyana’s 18th anniversary, and concluded on June 13.  Some of the highlights included the Live Launch on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and on June 7, a health and wellness “Pride Yoga” event on YouTube on June 8, and a Facebook Live talk-show called “Global Guyanese Gyaffing” on June 10. SASOD Guyana hopes to return to in-person Pride events in 2022 if state regulations on COVID-19 allow.

Image: SASOD Guyana’s Joel Simpson (left) and David Clarke (centre) interviewing yoga instructor Shania Wilson (right) at the Live Launch on June 7, 2021

PANCAP K4Health Project highlighted as Best Practice by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs (CCP) highlighted the PANCAP Knowledge for Health (K4Health) project as a best practice during its “Knowledge Management for Effective Global Health Programs” course in June.

The course was geared primarily toward professionals who work or aspire to work in international or domestic public health and Knowledge Management (KM) and Learning. It was facilitated by Dr Tara Sullivan, Project Director at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Ms Sara Mazursky, Deputy Project Director, Knowledge SUCCESS.

Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Coordinator, Knowledge Management and Mr Timothy Austin, Senior Project Officer, Communications, PANCAP Coordinating Unit, were invited to share success stories from the K4Health project.

Dr Singh-Anthony highlighted the project’s successful KM initiatives, including the use of Share Fairs and “peer assist” to foster effective and strategic collaboration between the Region’s National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers and civil society organisation (CSO) representatives. She also spoke of the PANCAP Treat All Knowledge Suite and Roadmap, which provided the Region with essential information on the World Health Organization’s recommendation that all People Living with HIV (PLHIV) initiate antiretroviral treatment (ART), irrespective of CD4+ count or clinical stage.

Dr Singh-Anthony provided details on the project’s success in sharing best practices through South-South Knowledge Exchanges to Barbados, Dominica Republic and The Bahamas on Treat All, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and successful HIV testing strategies for key populations.

She shared PANCAP’s experience in applying the HIV knowledge management approaches to address the knowledge needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and posited that these knowledge management approaches could be applied to other health and development issues.

Mr Austin illustrated how online engagement via the redesigned PANCAP website and social media platforms effectively established PANCAP as the knowledge hub for HIV in the Region with over 10 000 website users per month. He elaborated on the PANCAP Integrated Marketing and Communications (IMC) Strategy, which was utilised to elevate PANCAP’s visibility in the Region and effectively share updates on the Region’s HIV response with stakeholders, including CSOs, National AIDS Programmes, youth, policymakers, etc.

Mr Austin emphasised the importance of synthesising information to effectively communicate on complex public health topics using animated videos, infographics, podcasts and other KM and media products.

Dr Sullivan hailed the project as a best practice for effective use of KM for building collaboration and fostering knowledge sharing among distinct groups of people. She spoke of the value of the project in establishing common ground among NAP Managers and CSOs, which enabled increased cooperation in vital areas of HIV prevention, treatment and care.

The project’s success resulted in KM being a permanent part of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit’s operations and increased use of KM techniques in the Region for capacity building and learning for better health outcomes.

Image: Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Coordinator, Knowledge Management, and Mr Timothy Austin, Senior Project Officer, Communications, PANCAP Coordinating Unit

CSO-Hub Secretariat with support from UNDP and the University of Belize hosts HIV Rapid Testing and Counselling Training in Belize City

The Civil Society Hub Organization (CSO-Hub) Secretariat, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Belize (UB), hosted an HIV Rapid Testing and Counselling Training for civil society stakeholders from 17 – 21 May 2021 in Belize City.  The training focused on building capacity to implement rapid HIV testing interventions with limited human resources.

The course was designed to provide guidelines and skill-building opportunities to potential HIV testers.  This involved training participants in identifying strategies to support clients in making behaviour changes that would reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.

Participants were also involved in practical sessions on the six (6) steps of prevention counselling.

Capacity building was also provided on HIV counselling, the HIV rapid test algorithm, finger prick and blood collection, safety at the HIV testing site, record keeping, quality assurance of HIV rapid testing, quality control, proficiency testing and professional ethics.

The initiative forms part of Belize’s National AIDS Programme, which aims to significantly reduce HIV infections among the most vulnerable populations.

Image: Executive Director, National AIDS Commission (NAC) Belize, Enrique Romero, delivering opening remarks during the HIV Rapid Testing Workshop

Engaging Men and Boys to advance gender equality and help prevent GBV

Gender-based violence (GBV) is recognized as one of the most severe forms of human rights violations and public health challenges. It occurs at home, the workplace, schools, political circles, prisons, and health institutions, to name a few. Perpetrators can range from intimate partners, family members, employers, co-workers, and state officials[1].

In the Caribbean, societies are organized around hierarchical gender power relations with male domination, reducing women’s economic and emotional independence.

According to UN Women Caribbean, 1 in 3 women in the Caribbean experience domestic violence, and over one-third of the region’s women report intimate or sexual violence incidents[2].

While there have been numerous workshops, panel discussions, and calls to action on GBV and gender equality, men and boys’ engagement in the discourse has been limited. Men and boys need to become more visible as integral partners in tackling sexual/gender-based violence and gender inequality. There is the need to engage boys and men as agents of change in the prevention and response, not just perpetrators or bystanders.

One of the National Gender-based Violence Action Plan outcomes calls for men and boys’ increased understanding of the dynamics of gender and violence and their active involvement in reducing GBV in Belize.

As a result, the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN) and the National Women’s Commission of Belize, with support from the Spotlight Initiative, implemented the “Engaging Men and Boys” project.

The initiative included a “Training of trainers” programme, workplace training, a peer education toolkit, school training and a public awareness campaign.

The objectives of the project encompassed identifying strategies for men and boys to understand the dynamics of GBV and commit to helping to end all forms of violence utilizing the positive deviance approach; challenging views about masculinity using role modelling and the positive deviance approach to transform attitudes and beliefs which contribute to family violence.  The project also aimed to equip men and boys with tools and strategies to help prevent GBV in their personal lives and community.

SCLAN plans to expand the project regionally in 2022.

Image:

“Belmopan Active Youths” (Belize) participating in a workplace session implemented under the “Engaging Men and Boys” Project.

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[1] National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan: A Multisectoral Plan to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence in Belize 2017 – 2020; Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation

[2] Violence Against Women in the Caribbean: A Critical Analysis

PANCAP hosts dialogue on COVID-19 vaccines with PLHIV in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago

Image: From left: Dr Rosmond Adams, Director, PANCAP, Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Coordinator, Knowledge Management, PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dr Tariq Jagnarine, National AIDS Programme Manager, Guyana and Dr Ayanna Sebro, Technical Director, National AIDS Coordinating Committee Secretariat (NACC), Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

PANCAP facilitated a virtual discussion with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Guyana and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to foster an improved understanding of the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The discussion was chaired by Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Coordinator, Knowledge Management, PANCAP Coordinating Unit, with support from Dr Tariq Jagnarine, National AIDS Programme Manager, Guyana and Dr Ayanna Sebro, Technical Director, National AIDS Coordinating Committee Secretariat (NACC), Trinidad and Tobago.

In opening remarks, Dr Singh-Anthony highlighted that despite the large volume of information available on COVID-19, it was important for PLHIV to hear experiences from their peers who received the vaccine.  She emphasized the importance of sharing first-hand experiences to increase the acceptance of the vaccine among PLHIV.

The Knowledge Coordinator referred to data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that indicated that the COVID-19 vaccines approved by regulators are safe for everyone, including PLHIV and that there is no reason why PLHIV should not take the vaccines when offered.

Dr Singh-Anthony further explained that before vaccines are licensed for scale-up, national regulators review the data and ensure they are safe. No data have emerged to cause worry that PLHIV are at any greater risk from the COVID-19 vaccines than anyone else.  She further highlighted that the Region has surveillance systems in place to ensure that rare but serious adverse events are reported to the public health authorities and the manufacturers of the vaccines.

In remarks, Dr Rosmond Adams, Director, PANCAP, emphasized the importance of dialogue on the COVID-19 vaccine within the community of People Living with and affected by HIV, especially with regard to the harmful repercussions of “fake news” and misinformation about the vaccines. He referred to the current data from WHO, which underlined the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and urged PLHIV to continue to promote vaccination and other COVID-19 public health precautions.

The Guyana team shared their experiences with accessing the COVID-19 vaccines; participants shared their fears and how these were overcome by seeking advice from healthcare professionals.  They also highlighted the importance of following the science and WHO guidance on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The Guyana team also highlighted that there were no severe adverse effects from the vaccine among the group of PLHIV that shared their experiences.  Mild reactions reported included minor pain around the injection site and mild fever, which the WHO has listed as expected side-effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Members of the Trinidad Team shared their experiences, including a detailed description of the process involved in receiving the vaccines at health centres.  Participants from Trinidad also echoed the sentiments of Dr Adams, providing first-hand accounts of being exposed to large volumes of misinformation shared on social media and instant messaging platforms.  The team reiterated the importance of seeking information on the vaccines from trusted sources, including the Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO.

Dr Sebro concluded the discussion by underscoring the importance of continued dialogue among PLHIV on the COVID-19 vaccines. She explained that the virtual dialogue is the first of many initiatives planned by NACC to increase the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines among PLHIV in Trinidad and Tobago.

In addition, PANCAP will host a webinar, “COVID-19 Vaccines and PLHIV”, on Friday 18 June. A video series highlighting the safety and efficacy of the vaccines among PLHIV will also premiere on all PANCAP digital platforms.