Violence, abuse and neglect against children are more prevalent in Belize than you might guess - and too often victims remain silent and behind closed doors. With a view to raise awareness and provide support to victims, the National Commission For Families And Children has partnered with UNICEF, GOB and other organizations to launch the "Blue Teddy Bear Campaign".
It's meant to equip communities, schools, families, and private sector partners to take informed, meaningful action to protect Belize's children. Here's how that launch went today:
These blue teddy bears are a symbol of a call to action, aimed at raising awareness on child abuse in Belize and promoting stronger forms of protection for our children. The Blue Teddy Bear Campaign is being spearheaded by the National Commission for Families and Children, but they have partnered with other sectors and organizations to promote their message. It's an issue the Minister of Human Development says that needs everyone's attention and commitment to protecting the rights of a child.
Thea Ramirez Garcia, Minister of Human Development
"Every year we have over a thousand new cases of children that come into the system and come through our ministry mostly they are victims of child abuse of neglect and we have to stem the tide, we have to really look and dig deep as a society to see what we are doing wrong, what are the causes how we can help but first we have to accept and admit that we have a problem, and it is a problem it is a huge problem for our society and that is why I lend my voice. We have a duty to our children we have a responsibility to our children as a state and as an entire society to do better by them."
In a presentation made today by UNICEF, research shows that 62.3% of children ages 1-14 have experienced some form of violent disciplinary methods. This ranges between both violent and psychological aggression from their caregivers. The chairperson for NCFC underscores the importance of having these partnerships with organizations like UNICEF to shed some light on the importance of this campaign.
Maria Elena Contreras, Chairperson, NCFC
"We need partnerships we need a network we need the commitment of everybody the child protection is a business for everyone in the community at home, schools and in every space that a child resides or a child engages in whatever type of activity they are in so we do want the children to be appreciated and aware of all the issues that surround them and when they are safe and when they are not safe and for them to be able to express themselves and we want them to know that their voices matter and if there is anything to do with something that they must report they must say it."
Jo-
"If someone suspects that a child is being abused or neglected what should they do?"
Maria Elena Contreras, Chairperson, NCFC
"Well we have the police we have the ministry of human development we have social workers we have NCFC we have UNICEF there are lots of spaces where they can go families can go and have that type of information being relayed and to the proper authorities."
