| Overview : It is proven that corruption undermines human development and democracy, and it is often the most vulnerable who suffer most extensively. Corruption reduces access to public services by diverting public resources for private gain. The Strengthening National Systems to Support United Nations Convention on Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation in Belize employs UNDP’s ‘Going beyond the Minimum’ Approach to ensuring meaningfulness to the UNCAC ratification process. In addition, this project draws on the technical expertise from both UNODC and UNDP in supporting the government in implementing the UNCAC. Recognizing the validating role of civil society, this project works with the Government in encouraging CSO’s participation during the assessment, planning and capacity development processes. There are gendered dimensions to corruption, as men and women have different experiences with and perceptions of corruption. The differences in how men and women are affected by corruption are scantily documented, and this must be remedied to have an evidence base for improved policies. Accordingly, a national gender -sensitive assessment of corruption in Belize will therefore seek to document and analyze these differentiated impacts, to then make sound policy recommendations on how to address these impacts, for the equal benefit of all in Belize. To inform the national response and anti-corruption reform measures, a national self-assessment is being conducted. At the end of the SNS4UNCAC project, the country will have an improved and gender-sensitive national system to facilitate the effective implementation of the UNCAC based on comprehensive assessments that will support the development of a National Anti-Corruption Implementation Plan, and ultimately reduce the levels of corruption nationally. However, these assessments are often gender-blind with limited focus on the different impacts of corruption, or legislative and intuitional amendments, on men and women. This study seeks to enrich the national assessment, and may ultimately inform and strengthen national anti-corruption reform measure. Currently, studies on the effects of corruption on women and men are few, and in general little information exists on corruption from a gendered perspective. Therefore, The SNS4UNCAC project is commissioning research to determine whether men and women are affected by corruption differently and if so, how are the differences manifested. This will also consider their coping mechanisms for dealing with corrupt acts, and their recommendations for government action, based on their experiences. The objective of the study is to examine the gendered dimensions of corruption in Belize, to then propose gender-differentiated policy recommendations. The analysis will also consider additional demographic variables, such as rural/urban, age group, ethnic group and geographic region. This will support the development of specific policy proposals on how gender perspectives can be integrated into the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Belize. |
