New Families Bill Aims to Strengthen Protection for Belize’s Most Vulnerable

A bold new piece of legislation is making its way through the National Assembly, and it could reshape how Belize protects its children and elderly citizens. Minister of Human Development and Family Affairs, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, introduced the Families Bill today, describing it as a transformative step toward stronger family support systems. The bill outlines key rights and procedures around guardianship, custody, and child maintenance—and for the first time, it formally recognizes a child’s right to receive counseling. One of the most groundbreaking changes? The bill would allow single men to adopt female children, a move that challenges long-standing legal norms and opens the door to more inclusive family structures.

 

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Minister of Family Support

“It also allows for the recognition of the relationship between the child and a parent for the purpose of determining succession of property. It removes prohibition on a single man adopting a child as a female, because this prohibition goes against the principle of nondiscrimination. It provides protection for children with disabilities so they can be assessed early, offered appropriate treatment and given equal opportunities in respect of education. It allows for care and supervision orders for vulnerable and abused children to be placed in the care of the Department of Human Development or the Community Rehabilitation Department where they are to be given protective and rehabilitated services.”