Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Belize (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report, due since 2014, has not been received. In light of its urgent appeal launched to the Government in 2019, the Committee proceeds with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal.

Article 3 of the Convention. Clause (b). 1. Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that section 49 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 101 only prohibited the procurement of female children for prostitution and urged the Government to take measures to ensure the adoption of legislation prohibiting the use, procuring or offering of boys and girls under the age of 18 for prostitution.

While reiterating its concern at the absence of a Government report, the Committee takes due note of the adoption of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act, 2013. According to section 6(1) of the Act, a person having the authority or control over a child (defined by section 2 of the Act as a person below the age of 18), who takes advantage of his authority or control over that child or causes another person to sexually exploit that child, commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of ten years.

2. Use, procuring or offering of a child for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. The Committee previously noted the absence of provisions in the Criminal Code establishing offences related to the involvement of a child for the production of child pornography and it urged the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the adoption of specific provisions in this regard. While reiterating its concern at the absence of a Government report, the Committee takes due note that, pursuant to section 7(2) of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act, 2013, a person who coerces, induces, encourages, pays for, or exchanges any material benefit for, or otherwise causes any child to pose for any photographic material or to participate in any pornographic video or film or audio, visual or other electronic representation of any child involved in any form of child pornography commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of ten years.

The Committee welcomes the Government’s efforts to prohibit child prostitution and child pornography, and requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of sections 6(1), and 7(2) of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act, 2013, including information on the number and nature of violations reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed on the offenders.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.