By Belize Live News Staff: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has concluded a technical cooperation, promotional, and follow-up visit to Belize, which took place from October 15 to 18, 2024. This visit aimed to promote the Inter-American Human Rights System, provide technical cooperation, and strengthen collaborative ties with Belize, while assessing the country’s progress in key human rights areas, including Case 12.053 involving the Maya Indigenous communities in Toledo.
The visit was led by Commissioner José Caballero Ochoa, Second Vice-President and Country Rapporteur for Belize, who expressed gratitude to the State for its active cooperation and engagement with the Inter-American system. Commissioner Caballero Ochoa noted the high level of participation from Belizean officials, who engaged enthusiastically in both meetings and capacity-building sessions.
Aligned with the IACHR’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, this visit underscored the Commission’s commitment to intensify its work in the Caribbean, increase technical cooperation, and promote the ratification of Inter-American human rights instruments. During the visit, the IACHR delegation met with various branches of government, including the executive and legislative branches, as well as non-state actors from civil society. High-level meetings were held with key officials, including the Governor General, Prime Minister, Ministers of Human Development, Families & Indigenous Affairs, Home Affairs, Sustainable Development, and Climate Change, and the Attorney General, among others. The delegation also engaged with the Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and conducted a training workshop for public service and civil society organizations on the Inter-American human rights system.
The Commission also took the opportunity to hold a working meeting on Case 12.053 to assess Belize’s progress in advancing the rights of the Maya indigenous communities in Toledo. The IACHR expressed appreciation for the valuable information shared by civil society representatives and participants in the training sessions.
The IACHR thanked the Government of Belize for its logistical support and commitment to advancing human rights and capacity building in line with Inter-American Standards. Appreciation was also extended to non-state actors for their active participation, as well as to the representatives of the Maya indigenous communities for organizing and participating in the Toledo meeting.
As an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR is mandated to promote and defend human rights in the Americas. Composed of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly, the Commission operates as a principal consultative body on human rights within the OAS framework.
