Youth Empowerment Takes Center Stage at Restorative Justice Symposium

The Leadership Intervention Unit and the University of Belize teamed up to host a groundbreaking symposium on restorative justice earlier today in Belmopan. Under the inspiring theme, “Youth in Peacebuilding: Empowering Change Through Restorative Justice,” students packed the university’s auditorium for a powerful panel discussion. The event shed light on the harsh realities of crime and the urgent needs of marginalized communities. Engaging speakers from both organizations shared their insights, sparking meaningful conversations and empowering the next generation to lead the charge for peace and justice.

 

Dominique Noralez, Chairperson, L.I.U.

“UB has always been a great collaborator, a great partner of our and we believe that students who are within the social science program are going to be leading the social programs and the entire social protection system in the coming years. We want them to appreciate the population, what vulnerabilities look like for people and we want them to approach it from the most informed point of view to really transform people’s lives. So, this symposium is part of having that dialogue and discussion and having students understand the real, because many times students who have the privilege of going to school sometimes become a bit disconnected and we want for them to understand that we are all in the same boat together and once one of us weak all of us weak.”

 

Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, U.B.

“We have a new criminal justice and criminology program. We have our students in the four-year program and currently there is a presentation by a student on his last year of that program. They are talking about restorative justice and the importance of it. It is important that our students are way of such and if it is effective, if it is not, if it is something we should adapt as we move forward. So it is important that we bring LIU to the table. They are the ones working in these areas, so that the students can see what they are learning in class, how practical it is.”