One Year Later, Disability Law Still Lacks Enforcement

UNICEF’s analysis highlights a major gap between Belize’s legal framework and the lived reality of children with disabilities. The Belize Disabilities Act was signed into law exactly one year ago, and according to President of the Belize Association for Persons with Diverse Abilities, it is a shame that little to now implementation and enforcement has been undertaken.

 

Francisco Cuellar, President, BAPDA

“This analysis is a wake up call for everybody, because there is a lot of gaps within the country of Belize. This is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do. This is just for children, image what the adults have to go through. The situational analysis shows big gaps, children are not going to school. They are not respected. They do not have the privilege to certain things, like what the CRC said, every child had the right for education, health everything. So, this is just an open for the country of Belize. Me as president of BAPDA I have to advocate to make sure these things happen so that every family with a disabled person has access to these things and the right to whatever they need to do.”

 

Paul Lopez

“That is within the Disabilities Act, do you see that being implemented?”

 

Francisco Cuellar

“Up to now, no. Like what Mister Marshall said, today makes one year and nothing has been done. That is a shame to us as a country. But, my hope is that with this situational analysis that we do something as of right now, as a society, CSO, and the government to come together to do something about this.”