Belize City/Belmopan | November 9-12, 2016

Dip. Ronny Monge from Costa Rica and PGA Board member, Sen. Maureen Hyman-Payne from Antigua and Barbuda, Ms. Jennifer McCarthy, PGA's Deputy Secretary-General, and Mr. Alex Roche, Program Officer, PGA’s SOGI Campaign, conducted a Parliamentary Delegation to Belize City and Belmopan, Belize from November 9 to November 12, 2016 to share PGA’s human rights agenda, programs and campaigns with Belizean MPs and to invite them join the network; exchange experiences and strategies of PGA MP members in the region on their advocacy promoting human rights, including the rights of LGBTI people; and establish and strengthen cooperation with Belizean MPs and other stakeholders for ongoing advocacy.

Background:

On July 11, 2016, Sen. Valerie Woods from Belize participated in PGA's Seminar on Equality and Non-discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for Parliamentarians of Latin America and the Caribbean hosted by the Parliament of Uruguay in Montevideo. Witnessing the success of the event – in particular the fact that LGBTI activists and parliamentarians shared the same room, exchanged views and experiences, and engaged in open and productive discussions with the aim of solving common challenges – encouraged Sen. Woods to invite PGA to organize a Parliamentary Delegation to Belize.

On August 10, 2016, the Supreme Court of Judicature of Belize overturned Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code, which punished sexual relationships between consenting adults of the same sex with 10 years in prison, for being unconstitutional. The Parliamentary Delegation to Belize was particularly timely as a result of this ruling and the possible appeals to the Supreme Court’s decision by the government and/or other stakeholders.

Meetings and Results:

• PGA’s Delegation met with representatives from the Belizean LGBTI community, civil society organizations, and allies, among them, Mr. Caleb Orozco, Executive Director of the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), who filed the case in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Belize’s anti-sodomy law. Representatives from Belize Youth Empowerment for Change, Belize Family Life Association, Promoting Empowerment through Awareness for Lesbian and Bi Women, Empower Yourself Belize Movement, and Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition also attended. A copy of Advancing the Human Rights and Inclusion of LGBTI People: A Handbook for Parliamentarians (the Handbook), a manual produced by PGA in collaboration with the UNDP, was provided to all attendees. This meeting offered delegates a unique opportunity to hear first-hand the current concerns of Belizean LGBTI activists, their key priorities, and hopes for the future. Their candid testimonies enriched the delegates’ perspectives and helped shape the conversations during their meetings with public officials and decision-makers.
• During the audience with Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children’s Rights and spouse of the Prime Minister, PGA’s delegates discussed the importance of advocating for human rights for all, the possibility of introducing anti-discrimination legislation in Belize, and the rights of LGBTI people. Dip. Monge stressed the significance of all political groups coming together to avoid using LGBTI issues as a political tool and presented a copy of the Handbook. Mrs. Simplis Barrow expressed her delight at PGA’s visit to Belize and her desire to stay in touch with the organization.
• The Delegation also met with Hon. John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition, and seven other MPs from the People’s United Party (PUP), including the former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Said Musa and Sen. Woods. All attendees received a copy of the Handbook. The delegates stated that no one should be discriminated because of personal characteristics and highlighted the need to promote inclusion of all individuals in politics, especially those from marginalized groups. The delegates also presented PGA’s work, in particular, the benefits of technical assistance to develop human rights legislation, and encouraged their peers to join the organization. As a result of the meeting, all attending MPs decided to join PGA.
• In Belmopan, PGA’s delegates met with Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Speaker of the House of Representatives; and government MPs Hon. Elodio Aragon, Minister of Police; Hon. Carla Barnett, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance; Hon. Beverly Williams, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration; and Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development. All attendees received a copy of the Handbook. The participants in the meeting exchanged views and experiences on the situation of human rights and political representation in Belize as well as in the Central American and Caribbean regions. Everyone agreed on the importance of upholding human rights for all individuals. The delegates explained PGA’s mission and encouraged their Belizean counterparts to join the organization and become the voice of the voiceless. As a result of the meeting, all attending MPs decided to join PGA.
• Lastly, the delegation met with Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs, outlined PGA’s programs and campaigns. The common agreement was the need to combat all kinds of discrimination wherever it may arise. Hon. Elrington is considering joining PGA.

Next Steps:

• The Handbook will be disseminated among Belizean MPs who were unable to join the meetings with PGA’s Delegation.
• Potential establishment of a PGA National Group in the country, given the 11 new MPs that joined the organization, to institutionalize voluntary cross-party collaboration on human rights.
• Maintain close collaboration with PGA members in Belize for parliamentary advocacy and sensitization on SOGI and other human rights issues.

This mission was possible thanks to the generous support of the Global Equality Fund (GEF) administered by the United States State Department.