Monday, 2nd December 2024

Belize's Dorla Bowman gets Commonwealth Point of Light in honour by the Queen

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, has recognised Dorla Bowman as the 222nd Commonwealth Point of Light.

Friday, 15th April 2022

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, has recognised Dorla Bowman as the 222nd Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service championing women's rights and gender equality. Dorla, aged 70, is one of the country's leading social justice activists who has been dedicated for over 40 years to championing women's rights and gender equality and supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse.  She formerly served on Belize City Council and founded 'Belize Women's Political Caucus' to increase the election of women to national decision and policy-making positions. Most recently, she has created the 'Building People Movement', a project to increase awareness of rights around sexual assault laws and support those affected by gender-based violence to find new life opportunities.  The Queen is thanking inspirational volunteers from all 54 Commonwealth countries for the distinction they create in their communities and beyond by identifying one volunteer from every Commonwealth nation each week.  The Commonwealth Points of Light awards commemorate outstanding acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help encourage people to make their own contributions to addressing some of the major social concerns of our day by sharing these stories of service. People are extremely happy with Bowman's achievement and showered her with congratulations on social media.  A user named Chandra Nisbet Cansino Rn-m wrote, "Well deserved, Ms Dorla Bowman; you are truly a Belizean gem. Congratulations." "Congratulations, Proud of you in continuing life up our Belizean women and moving them forward all these years," wrote Josephine Faux "Congrats to you, my very intelligent and always advocating for abuse against women n children. You deserve it,". Dorla Dor Humes. "You have done and continue to do an awesome job in helping, encouraging and fighting for the rights of Abused Women. CONGRATS," Mary Morgan