NTUCB Calls for Urgent Action to End Domestic Violence

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has condemned the recent rise in domestic violence and femicide, following the horrific deaths of a mother and her two children in San Felipe Village earlier this week.

In a strongly worded statement, the NTUCB described the incident as a “clear act of domestic violence, femicide, and filicide,” and questioned whether such violence has become normalised in Belizean society. Police data shows that as of August 2025, there were 1,453 reported cases of domestic violence, more than 1,000 involving intimate partners, with 1,089 female victims.

“This cannot stand. This will not stand. The time to fix the shortfalls in the system is now,” the NTUCB declared, calling for stronger enforcement, legal reforms, and the ratification of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190, which addresses violence and harassment in the workplace.

The NTUCB urged law enforcement and the judiciary to better protect survivors and deliver justice swiftly, while also appealing to employers, unions, and communities to help break the culture of silence surrounding abuse.

The organisation pledged to integrate the principles of ILO Convention 190 into its policies and training programs, and to continue raising awareness through initiatives leading up to International Men’s Day (November 19), the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25), and the global 16 Days of Activism campaign.

“Violence and harassment have no place in our society or workplaces,” the statement concluded. “Together, we can make safety and dignity a reality for all.”