By Belize Live News Staff: Belize will appear before the UN Committee against Torture on November 24 and 25, at a time when the treatment of people by law enforcement is under heavy scrutiny at home.
The committee reviews how countries prevent torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, including in police custody, prisons and detention.
The timing is notable. A state of emergency is in effect for Southside Belize City and parts of the Belize and Cayo Districts, giving police expanded powers to search and detain. Attorney Dickie Bradley has warned against unlawful detentions and urged those affected to sue.
Earlier this month, a San Pedro police constable was charged with aggravated assault and remanded after a video showed an officer putting a gun into the mouth of a man lying on the ground. The Opposition has also raised concerns about police accountability.
Government, meanwhile, can point to steps it is taking. This week, Belize launched a three year project with the UNDP and the European Union to turn the Office of the Ombudsman into a National Human Rights Institution with a wider mandate to handle complaints.
The UN committee has received reports from the government and from civil society groups, and will question Belize’s delegation in public sessions.
Belizeans can watch the hearings live on UN Web TV from 8:00am to 11:00am Belize time on both days.
The committee’s findings and recommendations will be published after the session ends.
