BELIZEAN CHILDREN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED, ILO/IPEC SAYS

UNCLAS BELIZE 000970

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN (MACK),WHA/PPC (PUCCETTI)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KOCI KCRM BH
SUBJECT: BELIZEAN CHILDREN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED, ILO/IPEC SAYS

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Summary
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1. According to the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC
the results of its study on the commercial sexual exploitation of child
and adolescents (CSEC) in Belize Q conducted in cooperation with the
International Labour OfficeQs (ILO) International Programme on the
Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) Q not only confirm the existence
of CSEC in Belize, but also highlight the shortfalls in the countryQs
response to the problem. The research reveals that poverty is a major
factor in CSEC and that, contrary to popular belief, most abusers are
Belizean rather than foreign. Because BelizeQs laws and social system
do not currently address CSEC, ILO/IPEC recommends changes in the areas
of prevention, legislation, and capacity building. Relevant GoB agenci
local NGOs, and international organizations will have to work together
invest significant amounts of time and resources to ensure successful
implementation of any reforms. End summary.

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What Is CSEC?
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2. ILO/IPEC describes CSEC as Qthe use of persons under the age of 18
for paid sexual relations or for child and adolescent pornography, or
the use of boys, girls and adolescents for sex shows or videos.Q Some
form of economic exchange or payment Q either to the child or adolescen
or to an intermediary Q must also be present. Client-exploiters will p
in cash, but many also pay for food, school fees, utility bills, or ren


3. On October 26, the National Committee for Families and Children (NC
announced the results of its study on the commercial sexual exploitatio
children and adolescents (CSEC) in Belize. Representatives from the Go
(Ministries of Human Development, Education, and Labour),local NGOs (Y
Enhancement Services),international organizations (UNICEF),police and
media attended the presentation. The study, conducted in cooperation w
the International Labour OfficeQs (ILO) International Programme on the
Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC),revealed not only that CSEC exists
in Belize, but that in many instances it is tolerated and parents are
complicit in the crime.


4. NCFC Chairperson Sandra Hall noted that while Belize is a signatory
several international conventions Q including the Convention on the Rig
of the Child and ILO Convention 182 on the Elimination of the Worst For
of Child Labour Q the country is failing its children. During his keyn
address Valdemar Castillo, Minister of State in the Ministry of Educati
and Labour, stated that the study confirmed what many Belizeans already
suspected and pledged to do more to combat CSEC. Researchers offered a
number of recommendations to ensure the protection of children and adol
in Belize.

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Methodology
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5. Researchers hoped the study would enable them to identify the
characteristics of CSEC and understand the related risk factors. At th
same time, the study was devised to gauge the knowledge, attitudes and
perceptions of adults Q particularly males Q about CSEC and assess the
countryQs ability to address the problem.


6. To gain a better grasp of CSEC, researchers reviewed relevant docum
(such as newspaper articles, policy papers, and periodic reports on
international conventions); interviewed key service providers within th
public, civil society, and private sectors; observed activity in areas
considered to have a high prevalence of CSEC; and interviewed a total o
56 adults and 30 children under the age of 18. Staffing and resource
limitations prohibited a country-wide survey; instead, researchers focu
on the Belize District (which includes Belize City, the countryQs most
populous city),Cayo District (which includes Belmopan, the capital),a
Orange Walk (an area known for its bars and brothels). The interviews
conducted by psychiatric, rural, and community health nurses living and
working in the three areas. Each nurse also received training to ensur
their sensitivity to gender and human rights issues.

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Who Are the Victims and Abusers?
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7. Researchers surveyed 30 victims of CSEC, both male and female, and
that while this number is not representative of BelizeQs population, th
results offer insight into the victimsQ experiences. Most of the victi
surveyed were 16-17 years old, poor, and under-educated. Many lived wi
only one parent or were raised by another family member; some did not k
or no longer had a relationship with their fathers. Most of the victim
paid for sexual intercourse, although some were solicited for other CSE
activities such as nude dancing, photography, or film. The study also
that the victimsQ parents are sometimes complicit, encouraging their ch
to engage in the activity to pay for rent, school books, or other expen


8. Researchers questioned 56 adults in Belize District, Cayo District,
Walk to determine their perceptions about CSEC. While the majority of
believed that children and adolescents engage in CSEC to alleviate pove
also blamed the victims. Many of those surveyed believe the victims la
morals or actually enjoy sexual exploitation. Some also blamed adults,
that adults have bad morals or create a demand for CSEC. Most survey r
knew of places in their home districts where CSEC activities occur and
or heard of people involved in CSEC. Finally, although the majority of
said they would do something (call police, talk to an adult) if they le
or saw CSEC activity, in reality only 11 had ever denounced CSEC activi


9. Contrary to the popular belief that CSEC is a crime committed by fo
ILO/IPEC reports that only eight of the 30 victims stated that their
client-exploiters were foreign tourists or foreign men residing in Beli
The majority of client-exploiters were Belizean men between the ages of

50. After engaging 44 men in focus groups in different parts of the co
the researchers found common themes. These men rationalize the sexual
exploitation of children by making a distinction between sex with prepu
and pubescent children. Once a child passes the Q90-pound testQ (i.e.,
the child weighs more than 90 pounds and is, therefore, physically deve
then sex with him/her becomes acceptable. In addition, the study descr
Belize as a patriarchal culture where greater priority is given to fulf
the manQs needs Q at any cost. Finally, the study reports that these a
will even deflect responsibility onto the child, arguing that the victi
QtemptedQ or QseducedQ them.

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An QIntegralQ Part of Belize Society
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10. Several local NGOs, such as Youth Enhancement Services and YWCA, r
that commercial sexual exploitation is common among young Belizean wome
describe the activity as an integral part of Belize society. Two commo
modes of operation are Qhit me on the hipQ and Qdalla wap.Q QHit me on
hipQ refers to the practice of girls Q many of whom are still in school
who receive cellular phone text messages from an intermediary alerting
to a meeting with a client-exploiter. These girls will then find a way
meet the client, even if this means pretending to be ill to be released
school. QDalla wapQ refers to the popular fried chicken sold by Chines
for as little as BZ$1.00. (Note: US$1 equals BZ$2. End note). In th
children provide commercial sex services in exchange for fried chicken
food.

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Belize Not There Yet
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11. Belize is signatory to several international conventions and instr
that address child abuse and childrenQs rights. In addition, the Natio
of Action for Children and Adolescents in Belize 2004-2015 recognizes C
a problem and aims to reduce the incidence of all forms of child abuse
percent. Problems remain, however, in the countryQs legislation. For
the law contains inconsistencies in the definition of a child. The Lab
defines a child as under the age of 14 while the Convention on the Righ
the Child (ratified by Belize) defines a child as under the age of 18.
addition, the laws use language like Qknown immoral characterQ or Qcomm
prostituteQ that can prejudice the case against the victim. Belize law
gender-biased and assume that only females can be raped or sexually exp
The Evidence Act does not allow children under the age of 7 to give evi
even when they are capable of doing so, and requires corroboration in c
carnal knowledge involving children Q but not for other victims of sex
Finally, the Criminal Code imposes different penalties for sexual offen
on the age of the child. For example, a convicted perpetrator of inces
sentenced to 7 years imprisonment if the victim is between the ages of
18, or 12 years to life imprisonment if the victim is under the age of


12. The commercialization of sexual activity is not addressed in the l
Instead, most sexual offenses against children are classified as Qcarna
knowledgeQ (defined as sexual relations with a female child under the a
or Qunlawful carnal knowledgeQ (defined as sexual relations with a fema
between the ages of 14 and 16). Convictions in these cases are few. S
gathered from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions indicat
from 2002 to 2005, only 8 percent of unlawful carnal knowledge cases an
percent of carnal knowledge cases resulted in convictions. The rest we
dropped by the prosecution (due to lack of evidence or withdrawal of th
by the parent) or resulted in acquittals.


13. The report highlights other institutional challenges in responding
financial and human resource constraints limit institutionsQ ability to
to, counsel, or assist CSEC victims or those at risk; a lack of effecti
management and coordination among the institutions in the child protect
and a lack of training for prosecutors, police, social workers and medi
officers to ensure an effective response to CSEC.

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Recommendations
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14. ILO/IPECQs recommendations are divided into three key areas: prev
CSEC, legal reform, and strengthening institutions.

Prevention of CSEC: Belizeans must first recognize CSEC as a crime rat
a culturally acceptable practice and then their behavior has to change.
suggests behavioral change programs targeting men that stress more posi
concepts of masculinity and encourage respect for human rights and resp
sexual behavior. Sexual and reproductive health education should be ma
available to children of all ages, and human rights and gender equality
education should be mainstreamed throughout the Belizean school system.
At the same time, the government of Belize (GoB) must make child protec
a priority and develop economic assistance programs that target familie
in poverty.

Legal Reform: Researchers suggest developing one law which amends all
legislation related to crimes of sexual violence against children and a
the existing gaps. The law should:

- criminalize the commercial sexual exploitation of children under the
- harmonize the legal definition of a child;
- remove prejudicial concepts of morality from the law;
- be gender-neutral to protect boys as well as girls;
- protect witnesses and children;
- make evidentiary procedures more child-friendly; and
- institute stiffer penalties for perpetrators.

Strengthening Institutions: The study recommends the development of a
Victims Unit within the police department, staffed with police officers
been trained to deal with CSEC cases and victims. Social workers shoul
receive training, and their numbers increased, so that they can strengt
ability to respond to and manage CSEC cases. Finally, service provider
relevant institutions must develop resources (counseling, education, he
assist CSEC victims and those who are at risk.

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Comment
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15. The ILO/IPEC study is the first to focus specifically on the comme
sexual exploitation of children in Belize. Although the sample size w
the study exposes many of the perceptions and misconceptions about the
and perpetrators of this crime. Local and international organizations
as GoB agencies Q already involved in childrenQs rights and human right
in Belize welcomed the studyQs results as confirmation of a problem tha
long been ignored. While the initial reaction is important, the implem
is key and this is often where Belize falls short. The studyQs recomme
will require significant commitments in time, personnel, and finances.

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