Belize Takes Child Protection Efforts to Global Conference

Belize is reviewing its efforts to prevent violence against children as the country prepares for the Second Global Ministerial Conference to End Violence Against Children in Manila, Philippines.

Government agencies, NGOs and international partners met in Belize City today to assess progress since the first global conference in Colombia in 2024 and discuss Belize’s commitments ahead of the upcoming conference.

Shawn Vargas, Director of the Department of Human Services, said Belize has made progress in strengthening child protection, including changes to legislation and expanded support services.

“One of the major thing that we looked at is the ending child marriage, so moving the age from 16 to 18. We are also looking at the number of services provided by the Ministry of Education, specifically for children with counseling, psychosocial needs, and the level of medical support provided by the Ministry of Health.”

Belize has also established the Child Protection and Child Justice Steering Committee, bringing together government agencies and other partners to address child protection and justice through a more coordinated approach.

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Dr. Natalia Beer, Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, said Belize has documented 109 cases of violence against children that required medical or mental health care.

“We have documented 109 cases of violence against children that required medical care… If we look at the numbers from the Belize Crime Observatory and the Ministry of Human Development, we can see that approximately one-third of cases reported violence against children required medical care.”

UNICEF Child Protection Officer Michelle Segura-McGann said Belize’s commitment at the 2024 conference was to focus on prevention and multi-sectoral coordination.

“Since then, we have established the Child Protection and Child Justice Steering Committee. We are looking at the parenting manual, the parenting policy, the first ever parenting policy in Belize. We’re looking at integrated health and safe schools.”

The discussions will help shape Belize’s commitments as the country prepares to join other nations at the Manila conference and continue efforts to prevent violence against children.