2 months ago
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Armed forces personnel gathered in Belize City today for a two-day workshop on Human Rights Law, hosted by the Belize Defence Force in collaboration with the United States Army’s Southern Command. Representatives from the BDF, Belize Coast Guard, and Police Department are attending as part of efforts to create a unified approach to human rights for militaries and security forces throughout the Western Hemisphere. The program, established in 1997, welcomed Belize as a member in 2022, and this marks the first time the country is hosting the event. Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Olivera, Force Legal Officer for the BDF, says the training is being viewed as both a valuable learning opportunity and a historic milestone for the force, with discussions covering ways to strengthen the military’s handling of human rights issues.
Lt. Col. Lionel Olivers, Force Legal Officer: “It’s a program that has been in place since 1997 and Belize fortunately joined this program in December of 2022 where we became the 12th nation. We went from being attendees to now actually hosting this event after having joined three years later. Normally what would have happened is that we would have gone to a different country within the region who would have had established human rights schools, etc. But because we have been showing our initiative, trying to participate, doing what we need to do to ensure that we do the right things as a military, eyes has been opened and so the United States Southern Command who are the gatekeepers of the Human Rights Initiative found it fit for us to host it here in Belize. There are several topics. We’re going to see discussions focusing on the international humanitarian law and law form conflict. We’re going to see rules of law, rules of law on law and rules of engagement, which is specific to the police department. the Belize Defense Force, the Belize Coast Guard, since we would have been given per se a license to kill. But it’s our responsibility that we’re given and with every responsibility that you’re given in such kind, you have to be trained and understand your roles and what are the repercussions if it’s not utilized correctly. “
Commander of the BDF, Brigadier General Azariel Loria, says that participating in the workshop is important for the BDF to better perform their role in supporting other agencies.
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF: “The Belize Defense Force we have three roles. The first one is to provide for the defense of this country. The second one is to assist the civilian authorities, be it the inter-agencies the police, the Coast Guard, Customs, Immigrations, etc. And the third one is any task as assigned by the Governor General from time to time. But we mostly delve into the second and third role. We have committed some faults in the past here and you just imagine Belize without a police department, without rules and regulation laws, it would be lawless, as was 2000, 3000 years ago. But we have come a long way. We usually Belize Defense Force are in support of our sister agencies, we interact with the civilian populations and we must respect their rights, their dignity, their freedoms as per the constitution of Belize. And when that does not happen perhaps it shows gaps in training. Our soldiers may not have been properly. or well-trained in human rights issues on how to respond to eventualities when dealing with the people.”
The workshop also sees participation from non-military entities such as the Family Support and Gender Affairs Department.
English (US) ·