Dear Stakeholders,
International Women's Day is celebrated this year under the theme #AccelerateAction. We are all being asked to take accountability for the part we are playing in combating inequalities facing women and girls and the unacceptable gender-related attacks happening every day.
In 2025, women still face major hurdles. We have less access to proper healthcare than men, we are more exposed to domestic abuse, and globally, girls have less access to education compared to boys. Reports by the World Bank also reveal that we have a long way to go to close the gender pay gap, with less than half of those countries that have established equal pay legislation implementing transparency measures and systems to enforce these laws. This is one simple yet powerful way to #AccelerateAction.
Here in Belize, we see some strides toward supporting women's rights and ensuring girls have access to education through initiatives like the Belize Education Upliftment Project. Fortis Belize also continues to take its responsibility to empower and support girls' and women's rights seriously. Last year the company partnered to launch the "Her World, Her Rules" national campaign to coach girls aged 6 to 15 in basketball. We joined forces with the University of Belize to establish a mentorship program and hands-on internship opportunities with our company that will encourage students, including young women, to venture into science and engineering fi elds. Our internal focus on—and commitment to—diversity, equity and inclusion also remains strong. While some progress has been made, the call to #AccelerateAction is still very necessary.
Women and girls in our communities deserve to feel a sense of safety and know that the opportunity to achieve their dreams is not just a façade but a reality. In other words, we must let every woman know through our actions and our visible support that they are free to dream and have those dreams become real. It's time to tap into our humanity and work together to create positive change for a better future.
Happy International Women's Day.
Kay Menzies
President & CEO
Fortis Belize
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