UNHCR & Department of Youth Services sign agreement to support refugee, local Youth in Belize

Belize: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency & the Department of Youth Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collectively support refugee and Belizean youth on 24th July 2021.

In a press release, the government of Belize said that both entities would coordinate & collaborate on actions to promote the protection and inclusion of young men & women affected by forced displacement.

Areas of collaboration which include community-based interventions that spark dialogue between young refugees also their communities and improving access to services to halt or respond to sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, and abuse.

The joint work plan also seeks to advance awareness and visibility of the rights of youth, including those hit by forced displacement.

Minister of Youth, Sport and E-Governance, Kevin Bernard, noted, “The signing of this MOU with the UN Refugee Agency will influence the lives of our young Belizeans and those seeking refuge and international protection in Belize. I am delighted to share the resources that the Department of Youth Services have, and I look forward to giving greater services to our youth in Belize, including refugees and asylum seekers. Cooperation with UNHCR will further accomplish our goals as the leading youth development agency. ”

Belize is home to 2,394 also registered an estimated 3,400 more unregistered asylum seekers and refugees who have come to Belize seeking safe haven and protection, mostly from the nearby El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Out of these, around 34% are 13 to 29-year-old young refugees looking for protection.

“Youth are the beacons of hope, perticularly in challenging times like these,” said Renee Cuijper’s UNHCR’s Deputy Representative of the Multi-Country Office covering Belize amid her visit to the country. “By ties with the Department of Youth Services, we can enable safe & inclusive environments for refugees and locals to develop their skills and contribute to Belize together.”