Press Release - Belmopan - 24 March 2011 - As part of the celebrations of Women's Month in Belize, the Embassy of Mexico inaugurated yesterday an exhibition of photography and film at the Institute of Mexico in Belize, with the support of Quintana Roo Women's Institute. The main objective of the exhibition is to raise public awareness on gender violence issues and share information on public programs that contribute to women’s empowerment.
The opening ceremony was headed by Ms. Icilda Humes, Director of the Women’s Department of the Government of Belize, Ms. Karla Patricia Rivero-Gonzalez, Director of Gender Perspective of the Quintana Roo Women's Institute (IQM), and Mr. Hector Peralta, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Mexico. Ms. Humes acknowledged the tremendous support received from Mexico and especially from Quintana Roo for assistance and cooperation projects on Women’s issues. She also expressed the Belizean government’s commitment to continue the coordination and exchange with the IQM.
Ms. Karla Rivero, on behalf of the director of IQM, Ms. Cecilia Loria-Maria, emphasized the excellent cooperation with Belize as well as Quintana Roo's interest to continue contributing to the development and empowerment of Belizean women. She stressed that women are characterized by diversity and called for increased efforts to combat gender violence. Mr. Peralta, meanwhile, delivered the welcome address and called for continuing the joint work between the two countries, in particular on women's issues.
The photographic exhibition includes 30 posters designed by women, using their artistic skills, and creativity. Through these posters, women denounce the excruciating reality of gender violence in different cultures and countries.
During the exhibition the short film “En el tiempo de las mariposas” (In the time of the butterflies) was presented. It tells the story of a group of sisters that fought for the release of their husbands during the Dictator Leonidas Trujillo’s regime in the Dominican Republic.
The event was also attended by artisans from Mexico's Mayan communities, who presented various embroidery techniques and results of development projects implemented in the Yucatan Peninsula.