Government departments and civil society organizations have engaged in a multi-agency training under the Belize Border Presence Project, to strengthen Belize's Asylum Referral System. The training is being funded by the Government of Spain through the Organization of American States with a focus to establish "a clear referral system so individuals in need of protection are directed to the appropriate institutions and support services." Here are the highlights underscoring the value of this training.
Alexis Salazar, Receiving Officer, Refugees Department, Ministry of Immigration
"We are conducting institutional outreach to various government departments and civil society organizations through a project we are calling the Belize border presence project it is a project that is funded by the government of Spain through the OAS the organization of American states. Through this project we want to establish a referral system especially with immigration officers and police officers who are more likely to come across asylum seekers in Belize. Asylum seekers are persons who are in need of international protection because they are not safe in their own countries. The refugees department is tasked with assisting asylum seekers throughout the refugee status determination process they submit applications to us and they undergo in depth interviews that will help us determine whether they meet the criteria for refugee status in Belize so we are conducting trainings with immigration officers, police officers healthcare workers, education officers. We also extend the training to persons who are always on the ground for example traffic officers, and these are persons who are more likely to come into contact with asylum seekers and if they are better informed on what to look out for then they can be directed to us. If they are informed on what to look out for to identify asylum seekers then they can refer these persons to our department."
