Belize Convenes National Dialogue to Accelerate Action on Ending Violence Against Children

Press Release, Belize City, Belize, 8 October 2026 – The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, the Ministry of Health & Wellness, and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children, in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), convened a National Preparatory Session: A National Dialogue on Ending Violence Against Children on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at the Belize Biltmore Plaza. The session brought together government representatives, civil society organizations, development partners, technical experts, children, and young people to help shape Belize’s commitments ahead of the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, scheduled for 18–19 November 2026 in Manila, Philippines.
Violence against children remains one of the most pervasive violations of children’s rights globally. It undermines children’s health, education, protection, and overall well-being, with consequences that can last a lifetime. Every child has the right to grow up free from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The national dialogue represented an important opportunity for Belize to review progress made since joining governments from around the world at the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2024, where the country pledged to accelerate efforts to end violence against children. Since then, Belize has been advancing a multisectoral approach to translate these commitments into action through national policies, programmes, and partnerships aligned with the INSPIRE strategies for ending violence against children.
The preparatory session focused on four key objectives:
• Taking stock of Belize’s progress and remaining priorities since the Bogotá commitments.
• Listening to the perspectives and priorities of children, young people, and civil society organizations.
• Identifying the most transformative and achievable actions that can further reduce violence against children.
• Building consensus around a nationally owned package of commitments to be presented at the Ministerial Conference in Manila.
A key feature of the dialogue was the inclusion of children’s voices. Participants engaged in a dedicated listening session where children and civil society partners shared their experiences, priorities, and recommendations. These contributions will help ensure that future commitments are informed by the realities children face and reflect solutions that respond to their needs.
Minister Garcia-Ramirez reminded all present that the real measure of our success will not be what is said at an international conference. It will be what changes for children in Belize upon return. “It will be whether a child is safer in their home. Whether a child feels protected and supported at school. Whether a child who experiences violence can access the services they need. Whether the systems we have built actually respond when a child reaches out for help. And whether we, as adults and as institutions, listen when children tell us what they need. Every child in Belize has the right to grow up safe, protected, and heard. That is the reason we are here today.”
Dr. Roberto Bohrt, Advisor, Health Systems and Service, PAHO/WHO, in his remarks indicated that while no single sector can prevent and respond to violence against children and adolescents in isolation, PAHO, in its technical cooperation role to the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Belize, understands the fundamental role that the health sector should play within a multisectoral response. He further emphasized that health services provide a key point of contact with children, adolescents, and their families and can contribute to the early identification of violence and risk factors, provide comprehensive care and support to survivors, and facilitate timely referrals to protection services and response mechanisms in other sectors. He indicated that the health sector also has a central role in primary prevention by incorporating preventive interventions into programs and services designed to promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents, and can generate and use data to understand the magnitude and characteristics of violence, identify groups and situations at greater risk, evaluate interventions, and contribute to the design of evidence-based public policies.
Speaking during the session, UNICEF Representative for Belize, Sajid Ali, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to promoting dialogue and collaboration to end violence against children. He emphasized the importance of placing children at the center of solutions, stating: “Ending violence against children requires collective action across all sectors of society, and children must be at the center of these conversations.” His remarks highlighted the need for a coordinated, child-centered approach to creating safer families, schools, communities, and online spaces for every child in Belize.
The outcomes of the dialogue will help define Belize’s updated national commitments and identify clear responsibilities for implementation, accountability, and follow-up beyond the Ministerial Conference. These efforts support Belize’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that every child is protected, safe, respected, and able to reach their full potential.
As the session concluded, all stakeholders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration and accelerating action to end violence against children. Recognizing that lasting change requires a whole-of-society approach, partners pledged to continue working together to prevent violence before it occurs, strengthen support services for children and families, promote positive parenting and safe learning environments, and ensure that every child in Belize can grow up safe, protected, and free from harm. Through sustained dialogue, coordinated action, and collective accountability, stakeholders remain committed to delivering meaningful and lasting impact for children across the country.