Human Trafficking in [Belize] [other countries]
Street Children in [Belize] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Belize] [other countries]
 

Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children

Belize [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

Belize [map] is an independent Central American state within the Commonwealth of Nations on the Caribbean Sea. It is bounded by Mexico (N), Guatemala (S & W), and the Caribbean (E). Its capital is Belmopan. Belize City is the largest city and main port. In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Belize. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Belize), and Years Missing

UNICEF - The Big Picture

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

CHILDREN – Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 15. After finishing primary education, children may enter a secondary school, a government-run apprenticeship program, or a vocational institution. These programs, however, had spaces for only half of the children completing primary school.

SECTION 6 WORKER RIGHTS – [d] In 2003 the Central Statistical Office issued the findings of an ILO study that estimated that 6 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 17 were working, half of them in hazardous work. The study did not include the sizeable population of undocumented minors, many of whom were not in school. The Department of Labor coordinated with police and social services authorities to provide health and other services to undocumented foreign children who worked.

Children in rural areas worked on family plots and businesses after school, on weekends, and during vacations, and were involved in the citrus, banana, and sugar industries as field workers. Children in urban areas shined shoes, sold food, crafts, and other small items, and worked in markets. Adolescent girls, some of whom were trafficked within the country and to and from neighboring countries, worked as domestic servants, and some worked in commercial sexual activities. There were no government-sponsored child labor prevention programs.

$30m Social Pact To Help Children

On Wednesday, the Government and UNICEF set their formal seal of approval upon a five-year master plan that will guarantee access to education for every child in the country, primary health care for every child and broad-based protection from abuse and neglect.

Committee on Rights of Child Concludes Consideration of Belize Report on Compliance with Convention

Regarding street children, the delegation said that the concept of street children in Belize was different from other countries' situation where such children lived in the streets. In Belize, children could be seen walking in the streets even during school hours but they lived in their parent’s homes.

Christian Orphanages - The King's Childrens Home

Children who, for no reason of their own, are not able to be cared for by their parents or family members. Children who are abandoned, abused, neglected or orphaned. Children who are in dangerous conditions, either self-imposed or inflicted by others.

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Human Trafficking in [Belize] [other countries]
Street Children in [Belize] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Belize] [other countries]