By Belize Live News Staff: In a significant move to safeguard the rights and well-being of Belize’s children, the Government of Belize and UNICEF, alongside key national stakeholders, have come together to advance the formation of the Child Protection and Child Justice Steering Committee.
The new body, referred to as the CPSC, is designed to unify the country’s child protection and justice efforts under one roof. It brings together government ministries, the National Commission for Families and Children, the Office of the Special Envoy for Families and Children, and development partners, all working toward a more coordinated and responsive system to protect children from violence, abuse, and neglect.
The committee grows out of a 2024 national assessment that identified clear gaps, namely the need for stronger coordination, greater accountability, and better alignment across child protection and justice systems. By merging existing mechanisms into a single national committee, the CPSC will help guide and monitor reforms, ensuring that every decision is made with the best interests of the child in mind. As part of the process, stakeholders worked to establish the committee’s mandate, governance structure, and a five-year action plan.
For Shawn Vargas, Director of the Department of Human Services, the initiative reflects an important truth about the challenges children face. He noted that the merging of the two former groups is not merely an administrative exercise, but a recognition that the issues affecting children are connected. A child who is abused, neglected, exploited, in conflict with the law, or in need of care and protection, he said, deserves a coordinated, timely, and child-centered response.
UNICEF Representative for Belize, Sajid Ali, echoed the significance of the moment, calling it a meaningful step forward for the country. He stressed that protecting children requires coordinated action across sectors, and that by working together, Belize can build systems that ensure every child is safe, supported, and able to thrive.
Both the Government of Belize and UNICEF reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the systems that prevent and respond to violence against children, signalling a renewed, united focus on the country’s youngest and most vulnerable.
