About Win Belize

The Women’s Issues Network of Belize (WIN-Belize) was established in 1993 by a group of women who were actively involved in addressing women’s issues, such as: teenage pregnancy, family planning, economic empowerment, capacity building, and advocacy activities with and on behalf of women. These founding members had previously been loosely organized but were united in one common goal – to work for and to implement objectives that were conducive to the overall development of Belize, including the role, rights and responsibilities of women. Having participated in both international and national women’s development activities, the group saw the need for formal mechanisms to strengthen local collaboration and networking.

The main reasons for establishing the network were:

To monitor national and international policies impacting the lives of women that they could not on their own address • To share information and exchange experiences on the work they were doing to improve the position and condition of women in Belize • To support the efforts of members of the Network to raise funds for their work

However, the Network was officially registered in 1998 when it received its first institutional funding from the Canadian Gender Equity Fund (CIDA). It was therefore five years after operating from the office of member agencies (on a rotation basis), that the WIN network was able to officially open its own office and launch its first comprehensive program of work. The main goal of the Network at the time of registration was:

“To strengthen the network of women’s organizations, and its member organizations, so that they can more effectively implement activities which improve the status and situation of women in Belize, and work towards gender equity.”

Over the years, WIN-Belize has worked on programs in the areas of: Organizational Development, Community Outreach and Communication, and Advocacy. The Network has, for example, implemented

a successful Minimum Wage Campaign to raise the minimum wage for female-dominated jobs and eliminate gender disparities in the minimum wage levels for men and women. The Network has created awareness nationally, on the impact of globalization and trade issues on women. Several joint women’s empowerment projects involving the constituent groups of member agencies were also implemented.

More recently, the Network has begun to build its capacity and the capacity of its member agencies, to move toward a more gender-based analysis and approach to program development and implementation. This has included the implementation of a “Gender Definition” Project with member agencies and the development of an advocacy campaign to eliminate gender discrimination in the Education System in Belize. The Network is therefore supportive of its member agencies and their constituencies in the advancing of gender equity and equality in Belize.

Mission Statement

"WIN-Belize, a network of service-oriented organizations, coordinates, facilitates and advocates for policies, mechanisms and service aimed at promoting the empowerment of women in Belize."

Vision Statement

"By 2025, women are proactive leaders and participants in national development, are working in solidarity, and are enjoying an equitable balance of respect, education, human rights and access to services, allowing for freedom to live full and productive lives."