The SPT has a mandate to visit all States that are parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). State parties must establish an NPM within a year following the ratification of the OPCAT. Although Belize agreed to the OPCAT in September 2015, it has not yet done so. Sir Malcolm, Head of the SPT delegation, explained ‘We are visiting Belize in order to assist the authorities to set this mechanism, as well as to see the conditions of detention in the country’.   

During its visit the SPT met with the Minister of National Security; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives; the Chief Justice; the Ombudsman; the relevant public actors of the Government and representatives of UN agencies and civil society.  The delegation also visited places of deprivation of liberty (the central prison, police stations throughout the country and a juvenile institution), where it was able to interview persons deprived of their liberty and staff.

The outcome of the visit was that ‘Belize should strive to establish a national preventive body as soon as possible, ensuring that it is functionally independent, adequately resourced and mandated to carry out unannounced visits to places where people are or may be deprived of liberty’, said Sir Malcolm Evans.

Sir Malcolm explained ‘We have addressed our preliminary observations to the authorities, including certain urgent changes that need to be immediately implemented with regards to conditions of detention. The NPM, when established, will also be able to assist the authorities on improving the conditions of detention and ensure an effective torture and ill-treatment prevention policy in the country’.

The SPT will send to the Government of Belize its confidential report containing observations and recommendations, which it encourages to make public.