Belizean LGBT Rights Violations

September 19th, 2019 Between 1747 and 1947, it was estimated that 60 million people died in famine in India while Europeans slaughtered 56 million indigenous people that triggered climate change over a 100 year period in North, Central and South America. Today we have International Treaty Bodies like the UN Human Rights Council and International Treaty Obligations and country reviews in Geneva, but what we don't have is a thorough review of how colonialism impacted the lives of hundreds of millions around the World in the names of economic development for our colonizers. The point is made clearer when King Leopold of Belgium committed mass genocide of 10m people in the name of economic development, but little condemnation exists in the history books. It can be said, he killed more people than Jews killed by Hitler, despite this, remains a fundamental blimp in history. The times may have changed along with the methods, but global systemic racism have simply evolve i...

June 26th, 2019 On March 1st, 2018, the Cabinet Minister, Anthony Martinez told the media that it was illegal to photograph Civilians. According to the Minister, the Attorney General Office has advised cabinet that police officer must cease and desist from the practice. On 24th June 2019, it seems that was lost on Officers in Georgeville Cayo who handcuffed a member of the L.G.B.T Community in Belize, sought to force him behind a police truck, too his photo  and threaten to arrest him for misconduct. The individual was interviewed and recalled his his frustration.  "I was sitting on the basketball court alone, smoking as always, watching youtube and listening to music, when 4 or 5 police officer pass me, gone to the back asking to searching the areas, i no know what they were looking for.  I put back my earphones in my ear and they pull it out. I was told," I can't have it in!" I tried to walk away and they pulled me back told me to stay. I was told tha...

July , 19th, 2019 THE LGBTTTI COALITION CELEBRATES THE CULMINATION OF ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE OAS DESPITE THE INTENT OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT TO CLOSE SPACES TO CIVIL SOCIETY Medellin, Colombia June 2019 The Coalition of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals, Transsexuals, Transvestites and Intersex (LGBTTTI) from Latin America and the Caribbean working within the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS) celebrates the culmination of another successful General Assembly of the OAS, which included the adoption of the Omnibus Resolution on Human Rights, which includes the section entitled "human rights and prevention of discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons", during its 49th regular session of the General Assembly, which took place in Medellín, Colombia, on June 27 and 28, 2019. THE DIALOGUE WITH THE HEADS OF DELEGATION THE SECRETARY GENERAL, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ORGANIZATI...

7/4/2019 Celebrities announced a boycott when Brunei announced its was making gay sex punishable by flogging, or stoning to death. Companies added their voice like TV Choice Magazine, Deutsche Bank, STA Travel and Virgin Australia which has cut a staff travel agreement with the airline.   UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet added her voice to the list of condemnation,  "I appeal to the government to stop the entry into force of this draconian new penal code, which would mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented."    The European Union added its voice with,"Some of the punishments foreseen in the criminal code amount to torture, acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,"It has drawn strong criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United States, Germany, France and Britain. Amnesty International added their voice as well. My Colleague Pang Khee Teik from Malaysia poin...

Statement by Equal Rights Coalition on the situation in Brunei

4th March, 2019 The Commonwealth Equality Network mobilized over 45 organizations in Mauritius to look at governance and strategy.The Network meeting is a small part of The United Belize Advocacy Movement transnational framework of advocacy which exists within a tickle down model that has been operational for over a generation in the global L.G.B.T.I movement. T.C.E.N, arguably, exists within this model and is challenged by, resources limitation, personnel, national capacity, legal barriers, governance challenges like dictatorship among member states, historical genocide, visible community leadership on the ground and national priorities that impacts the relevancy of its operational objectives and outcomes which often seem intangible and disconnected to immediate impact on the ground.   When national realities are examined, it seems movements have to overcome a myriad of challenges. With visible civil rights & defense mechanisms inadequate; underdeveloped  politic...

10th November, 2018 When a trans person decide to walk unto the streets of Belize knowing that she will be insulted, mocked, shamed threaten, but does it anyway. It is an action of resistance. When LGBTI communities all over this country threw house parties in Belize City, Orange Walk, Cayo and else where, it was an action of resistance.  In fact, out stubbornness and refusal to capitulate to violence have made us a hardy lot. To understand these acts of defiance, we need to explore the country of Belize. As a country we developed against the odds, with its settlement efforts upon the arrival of the British Bucanners and privateers who work to get rid of the Spaniards out of Belize and despite the British government not wishing to declare Belize a crown colony. They settled anyway. According to the Belizean History, it reported ,"In 1725 the population of Belize had been reduced to a small quantity of people, “not exceeding above fifty white men and about a hundred and ...