A Joint Approach: Sexual Violence Prevention in Belize’s Security Forces

A new initiative dubbed the Joint Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Program is being spearheaded by the ministries of National Defense and Border Security, Home Affairs, as well as the E.U.-U.N. Spotlight Initiative.  The program will provide response services when sexual assault occurs within Belize’s security forces, as it aims for women and girls to enjoy their right to a life free of violence within an inclusive and gender-equitable environment.  Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, spoke briefly on the launch of the program.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Sexual violence is not something unique to the security forces of Belize. That is something very common all across the world in all the security forces, but what is unique is Belize’s position. I was speaking with the UNICEF representative yesterday and she said that it’s very uncommon to see a unified approach as we have here in Belize, with not just the police department, but the Belize Defense Force and the coast guard all coming together over the course of the last year to make this very loud statement that we have a zero tolerance approach when it comes to sexual violence within our security forces. And so what it is really is a year’s worth of research and analysis by the experts who were tasked to carry out this analysis and assessment and giving their report and suggestions on the way forward in terms of victim support within the security services, in terms of very adequate, reliable response on the part of the hierarchy of our security forces and definitely providing the type of support legislatively that we can change the laws to ensure that there is this zero tolerance approach when it comes to sexual violence within our security forces.”