O.A.S. General Resolution on Human Rights and Belize

Caleb Orozco

The United Belize Advocacy Movement and the Coalition of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Transsexuals, Travestis and Intersex of Latin America and the Caribbean are celebrating the adoption of the General Resolution on Human Rights. The resolution includes a focus on “human rights and prevention of discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons,” by the Organization of American States, during its forty-eight General Assembly. Earlier this month, Executive Director of UNIBAM, Caleb Orozco was in Washington to dialogue with leaders at the O.A.S. General Assembly and shares how this resolution has helped the region since it was adopted back in 2008.

Caleb Orozco, Executive Director, UNIBAM

“That is important for us because the resolution has gradually strengthened since 2008 to 2018, where as an advocate/activist, I was able to get precautionary measures to address the violence that I had experienced from the Inter-American Commission. More importantly, we had thematic hearings that allowed us to dialogue with our Belizean Ambassador to the OAS back then which was Nestor Mendez. Further to that, the resolution creates systems to support like it inspired the development of an LGBT Unit; it allowed that unit to advance research around violence in the region and it inspired the assignment of a rapid tool on LGBT issues. Prior to the resolution, the language of the LGBT issue was never really discussed in any significant way until our Coalition came on board. Beyond that, our work builds on international lobbying and goes beyond the resolution. Beyond that, the work that we do and the resolution itself is also inspiring conversations among parliamentarians among CARICOM states, regards to, can they govern their states and respect and show the value of fairness in how they address their citizenry?”