Belize

The last execution in Belize was carried out in 1985, and a new death sentence has not been handed down since 2005. There are currently no individuals incarcerated on death row. However, the country has yet to abolish the death penalty.

Belize is one of 13 Caribbean nations where we work, and we began assisting individuals facing the death penalty there in 2006.

In 2014, we launched a report, co-produced with the Bar Association of Belize, which provided a detailed account of the findings of a visit to the Belize Central Prison by Joseph Middleton, a leading human rights barrister. This report focused on general concerns about the Belize Central Prison, highlighting people who were mentally unwell and young living on death row, as well as those facing life sentences.

We have also worked on several death row cases including that of Lavern Longsworth, a case in which so-called ‘Battered Woman Syndrome’ was accepted as a defence to murder for the first time in Belize.

In recent years, we have been engaging with policymakers to advocate for public opinion research on the death penalty to be carried out.

We continue to advocate for abolition of the death penalty in Belize through invigorating discourse about criminal justice with government officials and policymakers. We also continue to assist in legal cases of those facing death sentences.

Of note, we are engaging with the government regarding the People’s Constitutional Commission, which was tasked with reviewing Belize’s Constitution and engaging the public to gather input for potential reforms. The Commission’s produced a report with their conclusions and recommendations, which included a proposal to remove the death penalty from law.