Protecting Belize’s Children: UNHCR and UNICEF train social workers to handle high-risk cases

By Zoila Palma:  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and UNICEF are working to strengthen Belize’s child protection system by training social workers and child protection professionals to better respond to vulnerable children, including those affected by displacement, abuse, neglect and family separation.

The Best Interest Procedure Training brings together frontline professionals from across the country to develop practical skills for making decisions that prioritize the safety, rights and well-being of children.

Participants are taking part in case studies, interactive discussions and practical exercises focused on assessing risks and developing appropriate protection responses.

The training is especially important for cases involving violence, exploitation, neglect, abuse, displacement and family separation, where decisions can have lasting consequences for children.

 The Best Interest Procedure provides a structured, child-centered approach to help social workers determine what course of action is most appropriate for each individual child.

The initiative forms part of continued collaboration between UNHCR, UNICEF and the Department of Human Services within the Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs.

UNHCR Officer-in-Charge in Belize Mariya Voloshkevich said strengthening the capacity of social workers is an important investment in Belize’s child protection system, while UNICEF Representative Sajid Ali emphasized that every child has the right to protection, care and support.

Department of Human Services Director Shawn Vargas stressed that family separation must be approached with particular care. He noted that children have a fundamental right to family life and, whenever it is safe and appropriate, should remain with or maintain meaningful contact with their families. He emphasized that separation should not be treated as an easy or automatic solution, and that any decision to separate a child from their family must be lawful, necessary and proportionate, while considering both the immediate and long-term impact on the child.

UNHCR and UNICEF say they will continue working with Belizean officials and partners to strengthen child protection services and safeguard the rights and well-being of children across the country.

The post Protecting Belize’s Children: UNHCR and UNICEF train social workers to handle high-risk cases appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.