A Consultation on the Sexual Crimes Legislation Reform Project

The Belize Women Against Violence Movement in Collaboration with the Building People Movement is holding a series of consultations on sexual crimes legislation reform. The first of the six-part consultations was held today in Belize City where more than ten organizations that work with victims and offenders of sexual offences participated. The purpose was to provide feedback on a draft sexual offences model bill which looks at laws and services available for victims and offenders. News Five spoke with President Dorla Bowman who says that development of this comprehensive bill is timely and necessary considering the growing number of sexual offences reported in Belize in recent times.

Dorla Bowman

Dorla Bowman, President, Belize WAV

“It looks at sexual offences legislation reform, where we are coming up with a model act that will be very comprehensive of all the present laws and sexual offences, sexual assaults. And also looking at based on our local situation, looking at new laws that need to be upgraded or strengthened or that need to be put in place.”

Andrea Polanco

“What prompted the series that you are doing?”

Dorla Bowman

“Women Against Violence was recently reactivated and mainly because they are concerned about the sexual crimes that have been happening. And they thought that there has been an increase in sexual crimes, especially among young children – from babies right up to adults and issues of rape. And the members of WAV came together in April and said that we have to look at the laws and also the services. Because it is not only the laws, what are the policies and procedures, what are the services we are providing to prevent this for victims and offenders.”