By Zoila Palma: The Child Protection and Justice Steering Committee (CPJSC) is calling for stronger child safeguarding measures at public events following recent scenes involving children during this year’s Carnival celebrations.
In a statement issued on October 1, 2026, the Committee stressed that children should be able to participate in cultural, sporting, and community events in environments that are safe, age-appropriate, and respectful of their dignity and rights.
The CPJSC acknowledged Carnival as an important expression of Belizean culture, creativity, and community, but emphasized that adults have a responsibility to maintain appropriate boundaries when children are involved. The Committee noted that behavior that may be acceptable between consenting adults is not automatically appropriate when a child is involved, and called for greater attention to the safety and well-being of children at public celebrations.
The Committee is urging event organizers, public officials, parents, and caregivers to implement safeguards at all public events involving children. These include clear codes of conduct for adults interacting with minors, age-appropriate choreography and costumes, designated family spaces with adequate supervision, and trained child protection personnel who can respond promptly to concerns. The CPJSC also called for safeguarding expectations to be clearly communicated to performers, staff, participants, and families.
The CPJSC further urged media outlets, content creators, and members of the public to protect the identity and dignity of children when incidents raise safeguarding concerns.
It cautioned against publishing or resharing images and videos that could identify a child involved, noting that continued circulation can expose children to unwanted attention or further harm.
The post Child Protection and Justice Steering Committee calls for stronger safeguards for children at public events appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The Child Protection and Justice Steering Committee (CPJSC) is calling for stronger child safeguarding measures at public events following recent scenes involving children during this year’s Carnival celebrations. In a statement issued on October 1, 2026, the Committee stressed that children should be able to participate in cultural, sporting, and community events
The post Child Protection and Justice Steering Committee calls for stronger safeguards for children at public events appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
