Fighting Violence Against Children through Non-Violence Action

Every day, children endure various forms of violence, often sexual or physical. Tragically, some cases of physical abuse are so severe that children have died from their injuries at the hands of adults. But the horror doesn’t end there. There are many types of violence that children are subjected to, and if authorities find out, the perpetrators can face serious criminal charges. In this feature, we’ll explore the laws, mechanisms, and systems in place to protect vulnerable children. We’ll also hear from a youth parliamentarian who has been a strong advocate for increased protection for these children. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with more.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

You probably remember that shocking video from May, where a man was seen brutally striking and kicking a little boy on the side of the street. That man, 33-year-old Devain Flores, has now been sentenced to twelve months in prison after pleading guilty to cruelty to a child and common assault. The little boy’s case is just one of many where children suffer at the hands of adults each month. Our headlines are filled with stories of children who have endured violence or, tragically, have died because of it. The Family Violence Unit of the Belize Police Department knows these cases all too well. According to Unit Commander, Assistant Superintendent Mariette Robateau, most of this violence happens at home, where the line between discipline and abuse is often blurred. Unfortunately, the number of reports is on the rise.

 

ASP Mariette Robateau, Commander, Family Violence Unit, Police Department

“We have been getting an increase when it comes to violence against children, especially between the ages, I would say, four to nine years old. The physical assault against them cannot be severe to the extent that they have bruises, or they have swelling, and you would have to be cognizant of the fact that if these things are reported, you can be well accountable for your action.”

 

But physical abuse isn’t the only form of violence children face. There’s also emotional abuse, psychological abuse, and even economic abuse. Over the years, the Ministry of Human Development has introduced several laws to protect children from these kinds of violence. According to Adele Catzim, the Ministry’s CEO, these laws are part of the broader framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

 

Adele Catzim-Sanchez, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development

“It does indicate that children are to be free from violence, any form of violence, abuse, and exploitation. And then, one of the things that we have done is to enshrine that into our national legislative framework. So we have some laws, one of them being the Criminal Code and the Criminal Code indicates that there are penalties for things like carnal knowledge, rape and any kind of sexual abuse of children. We also have the anti-trafficking protection legislation, which protects children from being trafficked. And also the labor law protects against child labor because we know that, you know, in some instances we have children who are unable to go to school because maybe they’re expected to work in the fields or expected to engage in other types of what we would consider hazardous work.

Labor exploitation is a form of violence of children.”

 

Catzim and others were instrumental in bringing the ban against corporal punishment at school. She says the ministry has also put in place several policies and mechanisms to respond to violence against children.

 

Adele Catzim-Sanchez

“We have instituted a Protocol that is called the 48 hour protocol and a that protocol a outline step by step what our officers need to do once they get a call, they would determine the urgency of the response and then within 48 hours. They need to be able to respond and there are certain things that need to be done within that time period to allow us to ensure that we deal with these emergency cases and of course, out of these, dealing with children, babies are a top priority. So if a child, a baby is being abused in any way, whether it’s sexual abuse or physical abuse. Or if it’s neglect, which is also a form of abuse, then we have to step in within those first 48 hours.”

 

The United Nations International Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has worked closely with the ministry on breakthrough areas that talk about parenting support, realizing that in many cases of violence against children, real-life situations are a factor. UNICEF’s Child Protection Officer, Melanie Barnes says the organization provides support to the government.

 

Malenie Barnes, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF

“The government of Belize made a strong commitment to advance the agenda to end violence against children. And this includes looking at three breakthrough areas that talks about parenting support because we know that the issue of abuse and neglect from the inability of parents to really cope with some of the challenges that they’re facing, including, socioeconomic barriers.”

 

Reya Chi, a passionate youth parliamentarian, played a key role in pushing to raise the legal marriage age in Belize to eighteen.

 

Reya Chi, 2023 Youth Parliamentarian

“My concern when it comes to violence against children is that children aren’t necessarily equipped with the ability to protect themselves at all times, especially young children. So, that’s why 18 is the age of adulthood, anyone below that doesn’t necessarily have the ability to protect themselves fully. So in 2023, I was a speaker of the House of Representatives in the Youth Parliament, um, in a simulation. And, um, we passed a bill for the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in Belize.  If children were to be involved in that union, they could be exposed to different types of violence, like financial violence, physical violence, from either their spouse or maybe even their in laws. And since they don’t have maybe the capacity to defend themselves and maybe to even think critically, they can’t necessarily protect themselves from these types of violence.”

 

Another key player in the fight against child violence is the National Committee for Families and Children (N.C.F.C.), which has been tirelessly working to eliminate this issue. Ana Carrillo says sometimes the violence or abuse that children suffer can affect them in other ways.

 

Ana Carrillo, Child & Adolescent Participation Officer, N.C.F.C.

“If it’s a physical violence that occurs on a child, it might cause issues with  development,  probably having issues with mental health. like slow learning, um, mental issues. Also mental health is a big aspect of it because we say, Oh, you know, we tend to, as something happened, we try to cover it up. And then we don’t realize that deep within that person or, and maybe it being a child exposed to something later on in life, they start to exhibit other issues of mental health that may be compounded with it. Also, we look at the financial aspect. of violence, meaning that if they’re, you’re subjected to live within.”

 

Reya Chi, now a sixth form student, says it is issues like violence against children that influences her to not just be a voice in the wind.

 

Reya Chi

“I’m a person with very strong opinions, and I feel the need to defend those who can’t defend themselves. So, um, as a person who has been exposed to things like the Children’s Parliament and Youth Ambassadors, I see where,  I have opportunities that others may not and I have gained knowledge about different things like violence against children and the prohibition of child marriage and beliefs and I can use that to make a better Belize.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.