Police, B.D.F. and Coast Guard Support Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Program

The Joint Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Programme for the security forces was launched today. The initiative involves the Belize Police Department, the Belize Defence Force, and the Belize Coast Guard and provides response services when sexual assault occurs within the Belize security forces. It also focuses on prevention strategies, supports victim recovery, and assists members of the security forces to be fully missioned capable. The launch began with the development of a roadmap of strategies to inform, educated and sensitizes the security forces on the ministries zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence. In attendance at the launch were Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development; Alison Parker, UNICEF Belize Country Representative; Retired Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Defence; Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard; Desiree Philips Magdaleno, Deputy Commissioner of Police; Colonel Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander of the Belize Defence Force; and, other key senior personnel of the security forces.