Introduction
Ruling People’s United party wins general elections
On 12th March 2025, Belize’s ruling People’s United Party (PUP) won the general election, securing 26 seats in the House of Representatives and maintaining a strong majority in the legislature. The remaining five seats were won by the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
As previously reported, Prime Minister John Briceño called the election nine months ahead of the constitutional deadline.
Belize ends state of emergency, but controversial constitutional reform raises concerns over human rights safeguards
Belize has ended a month-long state of emergency imposed in May 2025 to address a spike in gang-related violence in Belize City and parts of the Belize and Cayo districts. Authorities said the situation had stabilised, allowing the restoration of legal and civil order. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, all people detained under the emergency powers have now been released.
The emergency powers allowed police to detain people without charge, prompting renewed concerns over due process and accountability. The government is currently appealing several High Court rulings that found constitutional rights were violated during the earlier state of emergency in 2020. Some detainees were awarded compensation for unlawful detention.
Rather than limiting future use of emergency powers, the government has introduced the Thirteenth Amendment Bill, a constitutional reform that would expand state authority in “special areas” and retroactively validate all previous states of emergency. The bill also proposes the creation of a specialised Gun and Gang Court.
Critics have argued the amendment could weaken fundamental rights protections. Under the bill, the Governor-General—acting on the advice of the National Security Council—could declare emergency zones where rights may be suspended, subject to parliamentary oversight.
While police have backed the proposal as a necessary tool to combat organised crime, opposition leaders and civil society actors said it fails to address the root causes of violence and risks legitimising rights violations under the guise of public security. The bill remains in draft form, with public consultations under way.
CEDAW Committee urges reforms to eliminate structural discrimination against women and girls
The Committee highlighted the absence of a comprehensive legal framework to address intersecting forms of discrimination against women, and issued the following key recommendations:
- Amend its Constitution to explicitly prohibit discrimination on grounds of gender and ethnicity, repeal all derogatory terms that discriminate against women and replace them with internationally agreed and inclusive language.
- Repeal all sections of the Immigration Act that discriminate against women in prostitution, women with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) women and intersex persons, and conduct a comprehensive legislative review to remove any discriminatory provisions and language.
- Abolish the death penalty and, pending such abolition, issue a formal moratorium on the death penalty.
- Ensure that the domestic implementation of the judgment of the Caribbean Court of Justice is in accordance with the constitutional rights of Maya women and girls and their right to free, prior and informed consent in all issues related to their lands, and that the official recognition of Maya people as a collective legal subject with customary land rights, the issuance of land titles, demarcation of lands and granting of reparations addresses the unique experiences and needs of Maya women and girls.
Association
Teachers and public officials protest for better wages
On 5th June 2025, 11 teachers from Stann Creek, including union representatives Ifasina Efunyemi and Eli Villalta, faced court proceedings after blocking a road in Dangriga. The protest, part of a wider initiative led by the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), involved teachers disrupting traffic on George Price Drive to highlight ongoing concerns. The action aimed to draw attention to delayed salary adjustments and related labour grievances.
Villalta was additionally charged with obstructing a police officer in the line of duty. The teachers identified in the protest were scheduled to appear before the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court on the same day and were released from custody.
A few days later, on 18th June, a group of public officials joined the ongoing teachers’ protest to demand improved pay and working conditions, blocking access to Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) and causing significant disruption for travellers, tour operators, and airport personnel. The protest circulated widely on social media. During the action, officials positioned themselves on the main access road, preventing vehicles from entering or exiting the airport. As a result, dozens of transport operators remained stranded inside, unable to complete scheduled drop-offs and pick-ups for arriving and departing flights.
Trade union body alleges union-busting tactics
On 12th June 2025, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB)—the main central trade union in the country—publicly denounced what it described as acts of union repression, intimidation and targeted attacks against trade union leaders and members.
The NTUCB stated that these actions violate workers’ constitutional rights and erode the democratic principles that underpin labour rights in Belize. It also “called for an immediate end to all activities that could be interpreted as anti-unionism and reaffirmed its full and unwavering support for all affiliate unions and their leadership.”