Officials Meet to Strengthen Response to Sexual Offences

The Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, in collaboration with the National Commission for Families and Children and the National Women’s Commission, convened a special high-level meeting this week focused on strengthening understanding of sexual offences in Belize and improving support systems for survivors.  The discussions were facilitated by Justice Antoinette Moore and Justice Natalie Creary-Dixon and addressed several major issues under Belize’s Criminal Code, including rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, incest, sexual assault, the Sex Offenders Registry, and counseling requirements for offenders and survivors. According to the ministry, the session focused on the legal framework surrounding sexual offences in Belize and examined many of the challenges survivors face when seeking justice, protection, and support services.  Participants included representatives from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council, the Family Support and Gender Affairs Department, the High Court, Galen University, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Office of the Special Envoy, the Department of Human Services, and the Police Department’s Gender-Based Violence Response and Investigation Unit. The meeting was held yesterday at the Western Regional Hospital Vaccination Building Conference Room in Belmopan and brought together representatives from the judiciary, law enforcement, healthcare, academia, social services, and advocacy organizations.  The Ministry of Human Development says the meeting also provided an opportunity for professionals across multiple sectors to share perspectives and identify areas where the justice and support systems can be strengthened to better protect vulnerable persons and improve outcomes for survivors of sexual offences in Belize.