Belize: Special Envoy denounces online VAW

Description

The Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis-Barrow, denounces "the increased access and use of the technology, which should be a very positive thing has given rise to new ways of perpetrating violence mostly against women and girls" in her country.

Simplis-Barrow considers that "Cyber bullying, specifically the release of nude or intimate photos of women without their permission is a form of sexual violence. These acts are intended to attack, humiliate, shame, silence and publicly expose women and especially in our small society these attacks can have real and devastating effects. Violence against women and girls in all its forms is a gross violation of human rights and we cannot tolerate it. We can all play a role in stopping it. I hope that you will join me in taking whatever small steps you can to help to protect the rights of women and girls across the country".