National Commission for Families and Children champions end to child marriages in Belize

Posted: Sunday, September 1, 2024. 6:30 pm CST.

By Horace Palacio: The National Commission for Families and Children (NCFC) wrapped up its nationwide campaign against child marriages with a final session held in Belmopan on August 29th. The initiative, sparked by a debate at the Children’s Parliament last year, aims to increase the legal marriage age in Belize to 18, addressing an issue particularly prevalent in Indigenous communities within the rural areas of Stann Creek and Toledo Districts.

Shakira Sutherland, Executive Director of the NCFC, emphasized the alarming statistics that place Belize among the Caribbean nations with the highest rates of child marriages. The campaign aims to protect children from the numerous challenges associated with early marriage, thus paving the way for a brighter future.

In addition to raising the legal marriage age, the reform movement also seeks to raise the consent age from 16 to 18, amplifying the voices of the children who advocated for this change during the Children’s Parliament. Sutherland reaffirmed the NCFC’s dedication to ensuring these young voices are heard and translated into legislative action.

This Belmopan session marked the conclusion of a nationwide effort, highlighting the urgent need to eradicate child marriages in Belize.

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