Today, I submitted my preliminary proposal to the Director of the Women Department and Attorney Moore on a joint project aimed at the creation of a special unit within the prosecutor's office that deals exclusively with sexual assault prosecutions. The major issue, based on research gathered and analyzed over the past week, is that sexual assault crimes have increased significantly within the past decade throughout the six districts in Belize. Sexual assault is intertwined with domestic violence and child abuse issues as it relates to marital rape and incest, respectively. Ironically enough, because of the increased media reports concerning the rise in sexual assaults over the past few years, the public and some may argue, the prosecution and judiciary, have become desensitized to the seriousness of these types of crimes, especially when they are committed within family units. For Attorney Moore, it is a matter of national and international human rights standards against the violation of the human dignity of the person and demands swift attention. For the Women Department, it is perceived as a growing problem that's negatively affecting young girls and women within the Belize.
We have completed preliminary research on the governmental statistics available (which by the way did not include any demographical information such as status, nationality, age, ..etc of the victims or perps). Now the research on how sexual assaults are affecting the immigrant population here can begin. The major hurdle I will face is the fact that the keepers of the record did not record status or nationality of the people involved, so gathering this info will take a bit more time and resources than the earlier research. However, I look forward to the process.
Barak Obama:
The folks in Dangriga Belize are excited about Barak Obama's big win and impending nomination on the democratic ticket. Heck, I'm excited too! Not just because he is the first African American to reach such a position in American politics, but I really admire his and his campaign's strategy in requiring the country, and the world for that matter, to focus on the common threads that unify us rather than divide us. I thought it was really big of him to give high praise to Hillary Clinton and yes, John McCain...even after their speeches did not oblige the same cordialities to him. Nonetheless, I am banking on a Obama/Clinton ticket!
Food:
I thought I knew "red beans and rice." It is evident that I knew nothing. Attorney Moore and I ate at the Roots Kitchen Cafe in Dangriga today. Those tender beans, mixed in with the pilaf rice was out of this world gooo-oood!
Floods from Tropical Storm Alma & Arthur:
The flood waters are receding and people are becoming more mobile on the outskirts of town. As the waters are lowering, victims are being found. The unofficial total is 7 dead. Yesterday, a 2 year old baby boy was found. I heard that the father was frantically trying to hold on to the little boy but the child was washed away from his grip as the flood waters grew June 1st. It makes me praise God daily for my children's safety and security and the many blessings he continues to bestow upon us all.
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