Magistracy of Belize Launches First Official Website to Expand Public Access to Justice

Press Release, Belize City, Belize – August 7th, 2026 – The Magistrate’s Court of Belize has officially launched its first-ever website, www.magistracy.gov.bz, a milestone made possible through the partnership between the Magistracy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the European Union (EU) through the PACE Justice Project with an investment of BZD$73,680.00.
The new website serves as a centralized digital platform bringing together information on every Magistrate Court in the country. Written in plain language rather than legal jargon, and available in both English and Spanish, the site is designed to remove the confusion that has long kept many citizens from engaging confidently with the courts.
Among its key features, the website explains what some documents are and effects of not following their guidance, it establishes clear, step-by-step guidance for bringing small claims, recovery of debts, or eviction proceeding; and offers downloadable court forms that previously required an in-person visit to obtain. For Family Court users navigating sensitive matters such as maintenance, custody, and protection, the site provides dedicated guidance and links directly to partner agencies, including the Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Ministry, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Family Support and Gender Affairs.
The website places particular emphasis on supporting self-represented litigants, giving Belizeans who cannot afford legal counsel clear information to help them participate more confidently and competently in matters before the court, while making clear that it is not a substitute for legal advice. It is intended as the foundation for further digital reforms, including e-filing and online payment tracking, which the Magistracy plans to introduce in the future.
Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers highlighted the significance of the initiative:
“For many Belizeans, the Magistrate’s Court is their first point of contact with the justice system. This website will finally provide people with clear, reliable, and easy-to-understand information to help them participate in court processes with greater confidence. Our goal is to make justice more accessible, less intimidating, and more responsive to the needs of every person who comes before our courts.”
Amilin Méndez, Team Lead for Inclusive Growth, Digitization and Governance at UNDP Belize, underscored the broader impact of the investment:
“This partnership reflects our shared vision of a justice system that is transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all Belizeans. A website may seem like a simple tool, but for many citizens it will be their first real window into how the courts work. UNDP is proud to support the Magistrate’s Court in this important milestone toward a more modern and inclusive justice sector.”
This initiative forms part of the broader efforts under the PACE Justice Project to modernize justice institutions across the Caribbean and enhance the administration of justice through innovative, citizen-centered solutions.