Unicef's Belize Support Work

UNICEF has been working in Belize since 1954 to promote the rights and wellbeing of children. The organisation works with the Government of Belize to promote and protect children's rights, focusing on areas such as health, education, child protection, and social and economic development. UNICEF Belize also supports initiatives for families in at-risk communities and migrant populations, including early childhood development (ECD) programmes. In addition, UNICEF has partnered with the Legal Advice and Services Centre to expand access to affordable legal services in the country, particularly in areas where people may not have access to practising attorneys.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives

UNICEF's work in Belize focuses on ensuring that Belizean children are happy, healthy, and safe in their homes, schools, and society. UNICEF has been working in Belize since 1954, and their efforts have included improving environmental health, vector control, school feeding programs, and providing primary school textbooks.

One of their key areas of work is Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives. UNICEF supports ECD in Belize, recognizing that vulnerable families need support to nurture their children. They have continued to facilitate ECD initiatives for families in at-risk communities and where migrant populations reside. UNICEF's ECD initiatives in Belize include:

• Providing parenting support to vulnerable families to help them nurture their children's development.
• Facilitating ECD sessions for parents in at-risk communities, such as the Gales Point village, to promote early stimulation and learning for children in their early years.
• Partnering with IOM Belize and UNHCR Belize to support migrant families and ensure that children on the move have access to necessary care and services, including immigration and social security services.
• Working with national partners to protect the rights and well-being of children, including their right to health, education, protection, participation, and non-discrimination.
• Advocating for safe and loving relationships as vital for children's health, development, and well-being. UNICEF believes that positive relationships help children feel good about themselves and are fundamental to building resilience.
• Promoting early stimulation and learning for children in their early years, creating bonds that give them the best start in life.

UNICEF's ECD initiatives in Belize aim to provide support to vulnerable families and ensure that all children have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. By partnering with government institutions, civil society organizations, and other UN agencies, UNICEF is working towards creating a Belize that is fit for its children.

Supporting migrant families

UNICEF Belize has been supporting migrant families since 1981, the year the country gained its independence. UNICEF's work focuses on promoting and protecting children's rights, and it partners with state institutions and civil society organizations to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights to health, education, protection, participation, and non-discrimination.

In 2024, UNICEF Belize continued its commitment to supporting migrant families by working with national partners to protect every child and provide the necessary care and services they need to thrive. UNICEF supported migrant families in accessing immigration and social security services and collecting permanent residency cards.

UNICEF Belize also supports Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives for families in at-risk communities and where migrant populations reside. They recognize that vulnerable families need support in nurturing their children.

In partnership with IOM Belize and UNHCR Belize, UNICEF helped facilitate access to immigration and social security services for migrant families. This included providing permanent residency cards and ensuring that children on the move receive the necessary care and support to thrive.

UNICEF Belize's work with migrant families is a priority issue, and they continue to work with national partners to protect and support these vulnerable communities. Their efforts aim to ensure that all children in Belize, regardless of their migration status, have access to their fundamental rights and the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment.

Expanding access to legal services

UNICEF works to ensure that Belizean children are happy, healthy, and safe in their homes, schools, and society. They support the Government of Belize in promoting and protecting children's rights and work with state institutions and civil society organizations to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights to health, education, protection, participation, and non-discrimination.

One of the key challenges in Belize is expanding access to legal services for those with limited financial resources. Just over 40% of the population lives in poverty, and for many families, paying for legal assistance is not an affordable option. To address this issue, the Legal Advice and Services Centre was established in 2002 to provide legal aid to those who cannot afford a private attorney. The centre, which falls under the Ministry of the Attorney General, has a small team of full-time lawyers and support staff, and it struggles to meet the demand for legal services. However, it has made significant progress, increasing its human resources and expanding the number of offices across the country.

The centre's partnership with UNICEF Belize has been instrumental in expanding access to legal services. With financial support from UNICEF and the European Union, the centre has been able to hold traveling legal clinics in communities across the country. These clinics provide free legal advice on a range of issues, including situations involving children and adolescents. By making the clinics general rather than focused solely on child abuse cases, the initiative helps to protect the privacy of those seeking help and encourages more people to come forward.

The primary mission of the legal clinics is to provide accurate and sound legal information in areas where people may not otherwise have access to practicing attorneys. The clinics also help to address the issue of untrained people acting as amateur legal advisers in many communities. Simple matters, such as wills, can be processed at the clinics, while more complex cases are referred to the main office in Belize City.

UNICEF's support for the Legal Advice and Services Centre is a crucial step towards ensuring that all Belizeans, regardless of their financial situation, have access to the legal services they need to protect their rights and the rights of their children.

Promoting safe and loving relationships

UNICEF's work in Belize centres on ensuring Belizean children are happy, healthy, and safe. One of their key focuses is promoting safe and loving relationships, which they deem vital for children's health, development, and overall wellbeing. UNICEF recognises that positive relationships are important in helping children feel good about themselves and foster resilience against stress.

To achieve this, UNICEF Belize supports the government of Belize in promoting and protecting children's rights. They work with state institutions and civil society organisations to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights to health, education, protection, participation, and non-discrimination.

UNICEF has a long history of commitment to Belize, dating back to 1954 with early efforts in improving environmental health, vector control, school feeding programs, and providing primary school textbooks. Over the years, they have progressed through six programme cycles, providing critical support in areas such as health, education, child protection, and social and economic development.

One of their recent initiatives in promoting safe and loving relationships is their partnership with the Legal Advice and Services Centre. Through this partnership, UNICEF aims to expand access to affordable legal services in Belize, especially for those facing challenges due to limited financial resources. The centre provides legal aid to those who cannot afford private attorneys, with a particular focus on situations involving children and adolescents.

UNICEF Belize's efforts in promoting safe and loving relationships extend beyond legal support. They also emphasise the importance of early childhood development (ECD) and provide continued support to ECD initiatives for families in at-risk communities and those with migrant populations. By recognising the vulnerabilities of these families, UNICEF helps nurture children and ensure they receive the care and support they need to thrive.

Furthermore, UNICEF Belize prioritises children's participation and freedom of expression. They advocate for children's right to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas freely through platforms like the National Children's Parliament. This empowers children to advocate for issues that are important to them and ensures their voices are heard in decision-making processes.

Environmental health and vector control

UNICEF has been working to improve environmental health and vector control in Belize since 1954, the same year that Belize gained its independence.

UNICEF's work in this area has been focused on supporting the Government of Belize in promoting and protecting children's rights. They partner with state institutions and civil society organizations to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights to health, education, protection, participation, and non-discrimination.

One of the key areas of UNICEF's work in environmental health and vector control has been their support for Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives in at-risk communities and where migrant populations reside. UNICEF recognizes that vulnerable families need additional support to nurture their children. They have facilitated ECD sessions for parents and continued to support ECD initiatives to ensure that children in vulnerable situations are happy, healthy, and safe.

UNICEF has also been working to improve vector control in Belize. Vector control is essential to reduce the spread of diseases transmitted by insects, such as mosquitoes. By improving environmental health and vector control, UNICEF helps protect Belizean children from vector-borne diseases.

Overall, UNICEF's work in environmental health and vector control in Belize has been focused on improving the well-being of children and ensuring that they have the necessary support to thrive in a safe and healthy environment.

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