In a collaborative effort to strengthen Belize’s national child protection system, hundreds of frontline social workers and child protection specialists from across the country have begun a targeted training program focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable children facing harm, instability, and displacement.
Scheduled to equip practitioners with evidence-based tools for high-stakes case management, the training centers on consistent, correct application of the UN-endorsed Best Interest Procedure – a framework designed to center children’s fundamental rights in every decision that impacts their lives. The initiative is co-sponsored by RF&G, and developed in partnership with Belize’s Department of Human Services, which operates under the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs.
Unlike traditional theoretical training, the program uses hands-on practical exercises, real-world case studies, and interactive group discussions to build participants’ core competencies. Trainees are honing skills in individualized needs assessment, early identification of protection gaps, and development of context-appropriate interventions that balance child safety with the preservation of family unity wherever possible.
Mariya Voloshkevich, Officer-in-Charge for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Belize, emphasized that sustainable, effective child protection can only be delivered by properly skilled professionals. “Effective child protection depends on skilled professionals who can assess risks and make decisions that prioritise the rights and well-being of children,” Voloshkevich noted. She added that the upskilling program will directly boost Belize’s capacity to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable children, from those affected by domestic abuse to displaced youth separated from their families.
Sajid Ali, Representative of UNICEF Belize, echoed this view, noting that strengthened social work expertise is the foundational requirement for timely, child-centered decision-making. “Every child has the right to protection, care, and support, regardless of their circumstances,” Ali said. He confirmed that UNICEF is working alongside UNHCR and local government partners to drive systemic improvements that deliver better long-term outcomes for all children across Belize.
Shawn Vargas, Director of the Department of Human Services, highlighted that the Best Interest Procedure requires particular care when addressing cases of family separation, custody arrangements, and efforts to reunify separated families. “Children have a fundamental right to family life,” Vargas explained. He stressed that removing a child from their family should only ever be pursued as a last resort, when the move is legally justified, absolutely necessary to protect the child, and proportional to the level of risk they face.
Looking ahead, UNHCR and UNICEF have committed to continuing their partnership with Belize’s Department of Human Services and other local stakeholders to expand child protection efforts, scale up ongoing training for frontline staff, and advance the rights and well-being of all vulnerable children across the country.