The Embassy of Belize in Taiwan launched a culture and women’s month exhibition in Taipei on Wednesday to celebrate Belizean culture and womanhood in observation of 2023 International Women’s Day.
The “Belize Culture Month and Women’s Month” exhibition, which highlights Belizean literature, artwork that celebrates women, and artwork made mostly by women, kicked off at the National Central Library in downtown Taipei, where it will run until the end of March.
Belizean Ambassador to Taiwan Candice Pitts said at the opening ceremony that the celebration of women and culture should be observed daily throughout the year.
“However, I would later conclude to myself that the celebration of culture is an important vessel through which we can celebrate women,” Pitts said.
With this year’s International Women’s Day theme being embracing equity and one of the theme’s commitments being to highlight women creatives and their artistic work, Pitts said, “the simultaneous celebration of culture and women is not only natural and possible, but also important and fitting.”
“You will also view artwork mostly by women, and artwork that celebrates women. The commissioning of these artwork also provided economic opportunities for these women and families,” Pitts said.
Pitts also presented table runners made by an indigenous Mayan woman from Belize, Martina Pop, to a group of women in Taiwan who are in foreign services or connected to foreign services.
“In observation of the 2023 International Women’s Day, I gift each of you a Mayan table runner especially made by Belizean Indigenous Mayan women, and I do hope that wherever or however you use this table runner-on your desk, in your office, on your social media – that you would help us to highlight the artistic talents of Belizean indigenous Mayan women,” Pitts said.
Pitts also acknowledged every woman in the audience for their contributions to families, communities, societies, nations, and by and large, the world.
“We also thank you for participating in the acknowledgement and celebration of your sisters. For you know, when one of us make it, all of us make it; when one of us is celebrated, all of us are celebrated,” Pitts said.
Meanwhile, also at the opening ceremony, Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui Tah-ray (???) said Taiwan is committed to working closely with Belize and other diplomatic allies to implement the Assisting the Economic Empowerment of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Post COVID-19 Era Project.
The initiative focuses on providing technical assistance, professional training, and financial support to women who wish to start a business, Yui said.
“It is crucial that our nations keep working together toward a more equitable society, where all women have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Yui said.
International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, grew out of a labor movement to become a recognized annual event by the United Nations.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel