In Belize, solidarity culture looks something like this. Everybody concern about fair treatment, but very few show up. Even when organizations meet in workshops and the state organize people and say we leave no one behind, the people in the room remain quiet. Even when fabulous statements are made at the UN or the OAS, the political representative returns home to do nothing. Even when organizations meet and verbally agree a problem needs to be fixed, they walk out the room and forget the collective informal agreement. We make no statements, that acknowledge the marginalised in the environmental sector, among unions, in the private sector, among indigenious groups, older persons or in disability spaces because our diversity of mandates do not permit. I argue that we have an obligation to amplify the needs of the marginalised if we believe in a people centred approach to our citizenship and development. I argue that every sector has interrelated issues that are structural or systemic. I argue that failure to acknowledge the marginalised is complicity by omission, inaction and indifference to uphold systems of oppression. Our mindset of what about me, needs to change to what about us. Anything less is unforgiveable. The struggle continues!
This is a problem that resonated everywhere, and I see it in my local community here too. We all want to make change and be in community, but too often those want to make that change for communities by THEMSELVES. Aside for that, as a queer and trans Belizean, THANK YOU for your work. ❤️
Sadly very true and not restricted to Belize
Programme Officer
5moThat is tough :-(