Human Dignity Trust Release Video Exposing Hate Crime

Caleb Orozco

The Human Dignity Trust has released a new film titled “Wake Up Call: Hate Crime Law in the Commonwealth”. The video was shot in 2019 in Belize, India, Kenya, Seychelles, and Singapore. The film depicts a heartfelt and compelling call to action and includes interviews with LGBT activists, government officials, lawmakers, and hate crimes experts. Executive Director of UNIBAM forms part of the video along with Kendale Trapp, Kenny white, Simon Hill of PETAL. According to Orozco, very few Commonwealth countries have legislation to recognize, prevent, and punish hate crimes, including those committed based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Caleb Orozco, Executive Director, UNIBAM

“The other element of this which we must remember is that year ago we did an article called the Lonely Fight. What I am must proud off is the additional LGBT Belizeans who made a conscious effort to be visible in the documentary, to speak their truth and to highlight their concerns that were absent at the beginning of the discussions around what LGBT legal protection would look like or what advancing human rights would look like in Belize. For Belize and its political leaders to be essentially neutral to the changes to the criminal code amendment or in this case responsible in the criminal code amendment says to our leadership that they are taking the issue of governance seriously and they are allowing space for debate and dialogue over matters that advance legal protection. For example over LGBT issues but more precisely they recognize that when legislative reform occurs, there should be no inclusive.”