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Happy Women’s Day 2024

The Ramphal Institute is pleased to share its address for International Women’s Day 2024 delivered by Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Belize. The address may be viewed here https://youtu.be/3jI9HYXo_XU  and a narrative of the address can be read below.

Dear friends and colleagues in Belize and the Commonwealth – on Friday 8 March 2024 we once again celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme Inspire Inclusion.

This is a fitting theme and it celebrates not only the diversity and empowerment of women all over the world but also their cultural, economic, political and social achievements and the progress that has been made around women’s issues and rights. Yet, despite all the achievements and progress made by and for women, there remains much that needs to be done to break down persisting barriers, challenge stereotypes, and remove myriad risks and threats.

In this time of significant global challenges – including climate change; deepening political polarisation; expanding geo-political tensions and the eruption of new tensions in various parts of the world; rising cost-of-living pressures; persistent challenges in the workplace; and demographic and technological shifts it is important the we continue to educate and inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion in all efforts to forge a better world.

To ensure that true gender parity is achieved in all facets of work and life it is only fitting that we continue to work collectively and individually to embrace women’s diversity of age, ability, body image, faith, and race, among other things. This year’s Women’s Day campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving not only gender equality but in creating conditions and environments where all women, especially the marginalised and voiceless, are valued and respected.

I want to close by thanking women everywhere for everything you have done to make this world a better place, for addressing the myriad challenges we face, and for continuing to work together to create a better Belize, a better Commonwealth, and a better world.  Thank you. Thank you sincerely.

And Happy Women’s Day to women across Belize, the wider Caribbean, Commonwealth member states, and the entire world.


 

Ramphal Institute re-registered as CIO

 

The Ramphal Institute on 21st November 2023 changed its registered status from a Charitable Incorporate Company (CIC) to that of a foundation type Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), making it one of the first Commonwealth organisations in England and Wales to adopt the new legal status.

The new registered status as a CIO required the Institute to adopt a new legal structure using legislation which came into effect in 2018 for non-profit organisations and charities. As a result of this change, the Institute is now registered with only the Charities Commission and is no longer subject to company legislation or registered with Companies House.

Beyond the changes in terms of legal personality, the shift to Foundation CIO status has important implications for the Institute and the main benefits have to do with its legal personality (the Institute is now able to enter contracts, sue and be sued, and to hold property in its own name – rather than in the name of its trustees), and its members have limited liability (their liability in the event the charity becomes insolvent is limited or nil). The shift to CIO status is also expected to be more cost-effective and simpler structure than a company limited by guarantee, especially as it relates to filing of its accounts.

The shift does not affect the priority areas of work or the programmes and activities offered by the Institute.

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is an alternative legal form for a charity. Part 11 of the Charities Act 2011 creates the basic legal framework, complemented by the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, the Charities Act 2011 (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) (Constitutions) Regulations 2012 and the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012. Regulations to enable the conversion of existing charitable companies and community interest companies to charitable incorporated organisations came into force on 1 January 2018 (although applications for conversion of community interest companies will apparently not be accepted until September 2018 and further guidance is expected from the Charity Commission).

Past projects

  • Ramphal Institute Air Pollution Symposium Series

  • The Commonwealth: Optimising Networks and Opportunities for the 21st Century

  • Agriculture

  • Migration & Development

  • Developing Countries Tax Base

  • Easing Visa Restrictions

  • Islamic Finance for Development

  • Migration, Diaspora & Agriculture

  • Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Small Farmers

  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Commonwealth Small States

  • Education and Sustainable Development Goals

  • BREXIT and Third Countries

  • Megacities