Belize Celebrates UN’s 80-Year Milestone  

Today, The United Nations celebrated eighty years of promoting international peace and security. The Government of Belize hosted its own events in honor of the eight decades. This morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a flag raising ceremony. Immediately after, the Leigh Richardson Building hosted the UN80 Belize Podcast, an open discussion among youths on how the UN can shape the next century of global peace and security. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Belize joined the United Nations the very day it became independent back in 1981 and since then, the country has played its part on the global stage. From supporting the Sustainable Development Goals to partnering with UN agencies on key projects, Belize has been an active voice in international cooperation. This year, the UN, the organization born out of World War II to keep peace and security worldwide, is marking a major milestone, eighty years of existence.

 

Raul Salazar, Resident Coordinator, UN Belize

“It is eighty years since United Nations formed. It was a decision of countries to overcome what happened the horrors of war built on the spirit of bringing the cooperation of countries as the main source of the future. The United Nations was founded as a hope of peace that avoided countries to become and fall into the impacts of war.”

 

The Resident Coordinator for the United Nations in Belize, Raul Salazar, was present to witness a panel discussion held by tertiary level students on how the UN can better serve member countries into the next century.

 

Raul Salazar

“It means for Belize recognition as a country in 1981. They presented the country as a newly formed independent and sovereign country and it was recognized as that. And that was the platform in the UN, which is actually the largest multilateral organization, a hundred and ninety-three countries, where everyone has a space to bring their ideas, their hopes, their principles to a global forum. It is a largest organization in which so much countries participate, open to everyone to express their views.”

 

It was on that global stage in September that Prime Minister John Briceño addressed world leaders, speaking up for Belize and its partners around the world. PM Briceno used the space to call out Guatemalan authorities over illegal incursions along the southern border, demanded an end to the genocide in Gaza, and advocated for Taiwan’s inclusion. And today, Belize’s youths were given an opportunity to add their voices to the discourse on global issues.

 

Leasha St. Clair, Student, Galen University

“My experience was very enlightening. It was encouraging to sit down with like-minded young people that share same values and mindsets. These engagements were very important for society. We are looking at the next generation of leaders and seeing how they think.”

 

Paul Lopez

“You had some very strong opinions on gender equality at that level.”

 

Lesha St. Claire

“Don’t get me wrong, I am very much of a feminist, and I do generally believe that women are excellent leaders. But I believe we lack a level of education when it comes to those aspects sitting at an apex level, females are not as equipped as men are, but I think that is because of generational biases.”

 

Richard Martinez, Student, Stann Creek Ecumenical JC

“A topic that really stood out to me is what Belizean youths can advocate for, because Belizean youths, youths in general, we are so innovate and we always have new ideas. And just listening to those ideas and championing different issues. We are able to better shape different policies that can improve the state of certain issues and what we are going through in this country.”

 

Tomas Serrut, Student, Galen University

“I think this discussion is really important, because a lot of Belizean youths don’t understand a lot of international relations and how policies are pass and how their voices can be impactful for Belize on the global stage.”

 

Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca says the celebration of the UN’s eightieth anniversary comes at a time when this all important multilateral system is under severe strain.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“This reality makes it all the more important an opportune for member states like Belize to reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations, the fidelity to the charter and our conviction that multilateralism maters, that it is indispensable to global peace, cooperation and development.”

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hosted a flag-raising ceremony in Belmopan to commemorate the eighteenth anniversary. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez