Belize Heading in Good Direction to Fight against Human Trafficking

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

On the topic of human trafficking, we asked Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos-Garcia for an update on the situation on the ground in Belize in terms of trafficking in persons. Back in 2022, the U.S. State Department issued its Trafficking in Persons Report and ranked Belize at a tier two. It was an upgrade from the previous year because, according to the report, the Government of Belize does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so. It referenced the conviction of two traffickers and the expansion of the Anti-Trafficking Police Unit.  Minister Balderamos-Garcia says that efforts have been made by G.O.B. to get things right.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

“One of the challenges is that the United States State Department, they tend to look at the level and the number of prosecutions that you are able to carry forward successfully. Now, I can’t speak to that for this year, 2022 coming into 2023 – I can’t speak to that because I am not aware of an additional amount of cases, but we did have some cases between 2021 and 2022 that were very successful. However, I think the US State Department also looks at collaboration and the kinds of efforts that we are making now to get things right.  So I am sure that we would be stepping in a very good direction today with having those good procedures for the shelters for victims of trafficking.”