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August 26, 2010
Today is the second day of the first national symposium on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Belize. Representatives from a wide cross section of professionals have convened to look at the situation in the country and to begin work on a national action plan that will specifically address the problem. In his address yesterday, Minister of Human Development and Social Transformation, Eden Martinez made notice of another serious problem that is also closely linked to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. This is Human Trafficking.
On June 16th, 2010, the Hunting Human Traffickers Organization reported that about one thousand people are trafficked through Belize every month. The HHTO also issued an “Appeal to Stop Human Trafficking in Belize”, a petition urging government to take immediate action on the matter with a focus on prosecuting those who profit from the business, improving immigration policy and practices and strengthening and enforcing liquor license laws.
On June 27th, the Organization for Responsible Tourism released Appeal # 2 on how to stop human trafficking in Belize. Again, the document highlights the importance on strengthening immigration and liquor licensing laws within the country. Minister Martinez says that government is aware of the situation within the country adding that efforts are being made to address the matter.
Eden Martinez; Minister of Human Development and Social Transformation
“There is the committee that deals with human trafficking which is a multi-sectoral committee which involves the Police, Immigration, ministry of human Development, Foreign Affairs and their task is to monitor the human trafficking situations in Belize.
Belize is showing positive signs against the battle they face on Human Trafficking.
