Ministry of Human Development; Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs

On this Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance Day, October 11, 2024, the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous People’s Affairs joins the people of Belize and the world in commemorating the resilience, strength, and invaluable contributions of Indigenous People. This year’s theme, "Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact," reminds us of the urgent need to safeguard the Indigenous Peoples’ collective rights to their lands and territories, which are important to biodiversity and the preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity.

Domestic violence is a controlling and coercive behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, or financial abuse. Many people suffer silently from various forms of domestic violence. In Belize, the patriarchal societal structure has led to a concerning statistic – 50% of Belizean women report being victims of intimate partner violence during their adult lives. This high proportion signifies that half of the women in Belize aged eighteen and over have experienced domestic violence but have not reported it. To highlight the plight of the substantial number of battered women in Belize, suggested ways exist for society to become more proactive and responsive to these victims' dire circumstances.

The Women and Family Support Department (WFSD) of the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, with funding from the British High Commission, implemented a project entitled, “Evaluation of the Implementation of Gender Programming within the Women and Family Support Department”. This project aims to support the strengthening of gender programmes within the WFSD.

The Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gustavo Requena as the Director of the Office of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs. Mr. Requena joined the Ministry on March 18, after a transparent recruitment process.

On Saturday, March 2nd, the Human Development officer in San Pedro organized a workshop for women and girls at the Hope Haven Center. The workshop provided financial literacy and professional development advice to women seeking economic independence, leadership skills, personal and professional growth, financial planning, and career advancement. The workshop ran from 9AM to 3:30PM. Diverse women and girls were in attendance, including employed women, non-employed women, entrepreneurs, and high school students who will soon graduate.

The Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Maya people of the Toledo District continue to be at odds over the draft Maya Customary Land Tenure Policy. Throughout January 2023, consultations have taken place within the district’s Maya villages to dialogue on the critical aspects of the policy, specifically Paragraph Five, which proposes only to recognize 0.75 to 1.8 mil.es from the center of the town as registered as Maya customary lands. The Ministry has emphasized that the Government of Belize (GOB) is not limiting communal lands to one kilometer but keeping the door open for input and mutual agreement by all interested parties.

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met on 22nd January 2024.

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met on 15th August 2023. Cabinet considered and gave its approval for the adjustment of pay...