Nation Unites to Stand Against Child Abuse with Blue Teddy

This morning in Belize City, the National Commission for Families and Children, together with UNICEF and the Ministry of Human Development, launched what they’re calling the Blue Teddy Bear Campaign. And yes, the name is intentional, a small blue teddy bear with a band‑aid, meant to symbolize comfort, healing, and protection. But the campaign’s message is anything but soft. It’s a national call to break the silence. For years, Belize has battled high rates of child abuse, and while awareness campaigns have come and gone, this one aims to push the country beyond awareness and into action. The goal is to help families, communities, teachers, and even private sector partners understand what abuse looks like, how to spot it early, and most importantly, how to report it.

 

Shakira Sutherland, Executive Director, NCFC

“NCFC decided to collaborate and partner with UNICEF and the Ministry of Human Development in launching this Blue Teddy campaign. And so, this initiative, or this campaign is to advocate and bring awareness on prevention of child abuse, sexual violence, physical violence, violence in general, regarding our Belizean children. So, many times we have noticed on the news that there are reports that children have been abused. And so, we want the general public to understand that it’s not only NCFC, the government, UNICEF; we want them to understand that we need the support of the community itself. We need the support of our stakeholders, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, the police department, community-based organizations, private sector, public sector, we need the support of the community, neighborhood, families, schools, parents, etc… So we want everybody to understand that this campaign revolves around our Belizean children and to safeguard them. It’s important for us to know that it’s not only with NCFC, but also in the wider aspect as well because child protection is is everybody’s concern.”

 

Blue Teddy Campaign Targets Vulnerable Southside First

 

The campaign will roll out first in Southside Belize City, where children are among the most vulnerable. Organizers expect to engage more than 800 people across schools, community groups, companies, and households. They’re hoping for real, measurable changes, more reporting of suspected abuse, stronger skills to identify signs of violence, better knowledge of where to turn for help, and stronger community advocacy. Ultimately, they want a more responsive national child‑protection system.

 

Maria Contreras, Chairperson, NCFC

“We need partnerships, we need a network, we need the commitment of everybody. Child protection is a business for everyone in the community, at home, in schools, and in every space that a child resides or a child engages in whatever type of activity they are in. So we do want the children to be appreciative and aware of all the issues that surround them when they are safe and when they are not safe. So they would be able to express themselves and we want them to know that their voices matter and if there is anything to do with something that they report must say it.”

 

Organizers say the campaign’s success depends on everyone stepping up, so children feel safe to speak out, and know their voices will be heard.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: