New One-Stop Shelter for Domestic Violence Victims in the Pipeline

Across Belize, there’s a troubling reality that’s hard to ignore; domestic violence continues to affect families every single day. As of September, police have logged more than seventeen hundred cases. But that number doesn’t tell the full story. Many victims never report what’s happening, often out of fear of retaliation or the shame that comes with speaking up. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith says the department is working to strengthen the support systems available for victims. Her message is simple but powerful, if you’re in danger, don’t stay silent, reach out and make that report. Help is there, and you deserve to be safe.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Apparently in the past, persons were of the view that they would not place as much importance on situations that they’ve had. We’ve received several persons who have come into the station to make reports for incidents that date back one month, two month, three months, and all are being dealt with. It is our hope that when we deal with these statements and take actions, that urgency that is now being felt by citizens in the country is reverberated into the court system and meaningful actions are done. I can also say that the department is currently in the process of having a one-stop shelter. A building which would include all the sources that a survivor of domestic violence needs. So that means it’ll have human services, it’ll have the Ministry of Health, ministry of Education, it’ll have medical services as well as the police officers there. And the object of this is to ensure that when a situation happens, the person only needs to go to one location to access all that they need. I’ve been advised that we have already secured a promise for financing  for that building. The location of that building has already been identified, and what has delayed the process is the drafting of the structure of the building in such a way that it achieves what is sought to be achieved by it. So the department certainly takes the opportunity to encourage all persons who are victims of domestic violence or persons who know other persons who are victims of domestic violence to encourage them to make a report. The police can only up within the confines and the ambits of the law. We can only up when a report has been made or the situation is such that it enforces or it requires us to act.”