Last Tuesday, Belize adopted its fourth report under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism before the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva. During the third cycle, held in 2018, several recommendations were made to further human rights improvements. The Belize delegation, headed by Minister of State, Elvia Vega Samos, presented the country's progress and challenges in implementing those recommendations.

The delegation touched on several issues of concern, including the rights of the LGBT+ community.

Dylan Williams, Dir., Policy & Planning Unit, Min. Human Dev.
"Belize remains committed to the protection of human rights of all, we accept that there are some consequential legislative actions that follow from the reading down of the criminalization of homosexual acts, the LGBT+ community has been legally recognized in legislation that constituted the constitutional reform commission and PETAL, and NGO dedicated to advocacy for lesbian and bisexual women is an integral part of the National Commission For Families and Children. Belize also promulgated and updated the National Gender Policy which ensures that the rights of vulnerable people are recognized and protected. the legislative process continues, the government is mindful of conservative views while taking significant cumulative steps in this regard."

In this cycle, Belize received 166 recommendations. In a statement issued by the Ministry, it said that, quote, "Belize has opted not to take a position on these recommendations at this time but is committed to conducting a thorough review and engaging all relevant stakeholders at the national level." End quote. The outcome of these deliberations is then expected to be implemented over the next five years.

Humans Rights Advocate and Executive Director of UniBAM, Caleb Orozco, called the government disingenuous for its lack of commitment.

Caleb Orozco, Human Rights Advocate
"First of all, you cannot turn a hippopotamus into a jaguar. Second of all, the deceptive nature of the statements does not explain or show or reflect a commitment to anything. What do I mean you can't turn hippopotamus into a jaguar? You can say we support human rights and then turn around and say you'll need 5 years to then address the issues ignoring the fact that national elections are coming up in 2025, hello? Disingenuous? Dishonest? Secondly, you don't need 5 years to talk about your understanding of discrimination, there's a bill right now that is parked in the system where there's no commitment to do anything about it. You can't say we have been legislated in the people's constitutional commission and consider that a flex, that is not a flex because there is no commitment to do anything for our population in that legislation."

"The bragging that they did in Geneva at the Universal Periodic Review cycle is not bragging but it is state negligence about its inability to commit to a human rights framework that addresses all. It is the state showing that it is selective in its constitutional obligation among its citizens and it is the state bragging about its willingness to marginalize whole groups of people to satisfy a, what? Conservative view. Man, stop it."

"I have yet to see one commitment to the LGBT population, Belizean taxpayers in this country. You can't go around making deceptive statements about taxpayers who, over a generation, have pumped hundreds of millions of dollars of taxes into the economy and expect them to be silent in their unequal treatment in their citizenship and not expect to be called out."