‘Silence Is Protecting Predators’: Belize Is Fighting Back

The person most likely to abuse your child is someone you already know and trust.

That is the reality experts are confronting head on as Belize grapples with a rise in child sexual violence. This week, law enforcement officers in southside Belize City were trained on recognising and handling grooming, the process predators use to build trust with a child and their family before committing abuse.

Lead consultant Carla Alvarez said predators look for children who are not getting enough attention at home. “Maybe if a child is not getting the love, care, or attention at home and there is somebody who is older giving that child attention, it makes the child feel good.”

She added, “We cannot make the assumption that because somebody is a family member, that the child is safe.”

According to UNICEF, about 90% of child sex abusers are known to their victims, with family members making up an alarming proportion.

Mental health counsellor Aimee Jex told parents to watch their children’s behaviour closely. “We have to notice the irregular behaviors. We have to notice the patterns.”

She added, “The child is not to blame because the child is a minor.”

Tonight on News 5 Live at 6, find out what signs to look for and how communities can hold predators accountable.