Training and workshop for government and non-government stakeholders working with women and children to enhance capacities for social protection and interventions. These capacity-building activities are intended to change community dynamics that underpin abuse so that children can receive the support and security they need for proper development and socialization.

In 2021, CDF partnered with the Spotlight Initiative to expand the community-level response to family violence especially child abuse, domestic violence, commercial sexual exploitation of children, and child marriage/early union. Over 300 faith-based leaders, community leaders, and women leaders have already received equipping, 318 parents have been reached with support strategies and 876 children have received psycho-educational services.

Kindly use the form below to make a report

1. Definition of Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Act, 2007
“domestic violence” includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial abuse committed by a person against a spouse, child, defacto spouse, or any other person who is a member of the household of the applicant or the respondent”

Persons who may apply for Court Orders:

3 : Expands category of persons that may apply for Protection Order:

• Person affected (spouse of the respondent)
• Person who has a child in common with the respondent
• A child (through a guardian ad litem or social worker)
• Member of the household on behalf of another member
• Police Officer
• Social Welfare Officer
• Officer from Women’s Department

2. Orders that can be made by the Court

Court’s Powers

• Protection order restraining specific behaviour
• Occupation order
• Compensation
• Return of property
• Counseling
• Restriction of use of firearm

3. Other Powers

• 10 – Orders may be made for up to 3 years
• 26 -Police may obtain warrant to enter if refused entry but may enter without warrant to arrest person committed or who have committed domestic violence or to rescue victim
• 29 – If the complainant goes to Court and changes her testimony, a previous statement made to the police may be entered in evidence to establish the charge
• 33 – Police to secure medical treatment for victim rescued from domestic violence

Child marriage is a complex issue. Poverty, lack of education, cultural practices, and violence fuel and sustain the practice. Drivers of child marriage may vary from one community to the next and the practice may look different across regions According to the Belize Multiple Indicator Study (MICS) 2015, 3.9% of women or 675 women age 15 – 19 and 5.1% of men or 884 men age 15-19, first married or entered a marital union before their 15th birthday.

Some 20.8% of women or 3,601 women and 10.7% of men or1,855 men, 15-19 years, are currently married or in a union. informal unions account for a larger percentage of those in union than formal unions Belize as the Caribbean country with the second-highest rate of CMEU. the Ministry of Health reports that during the five-year period 2013 to 2017, 14.5% of all domestic violence cases reported were among adolescents. Of these, 89.6% were among females and 75.8% were among adolescents 15-19 years of age.

Preventing child marriage/early unions requires addressing cultural and social norms that promote early sexual initiation and promote child marriage/early unions as well as addressing the socio-economic challenges and lack of parental supervision that make adolescent girls particularly vulnerable. Most importantly, adolescent girls must be given appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and access to services and educational opportunities.

Child marriage/early union is a form of gender-based violence often connected to the commercial sexual exploitation of adolescent girls. CDF supports reporting of all acts of exploitation, providing counseling to adolescent girls and families who are affected, and provides prevention information to girls through the RISE program.