Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 4:33 pm CST.
For Immediate Release
The Office of the Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children expresses deep sorrow and outrage over the tragic deaths of Ms. Angelita Magaña and her two children, Tishan and Shadia, who were all burned alive in their home in San Felipe Village.
We extend our deepest condolences to their entire family as they grieve this unimaginable loss. However, this tragedy should never have happened. Angelita did everything right; she asked for help, she sought protection, she trusted the system. Yet, the very system that was meant to keep her and her children safe failed them completely.
We strongly condemn this horrific act of violence and the failure of the Belize Police Department and justice system to protect this family, even after repeated signs of danger. When an abuser is granted bail despite a record of violence, and when victims’ pleas are not treated with urgency, the system itself becomes a part of the problem.
Today, three innocent lives are gone because of a failure to act in the best interest of this family, and the fact that they were lost in this way is a failure we cannot ignore.
The Office, through SCLAN, the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network, has conducted several trainings on gender-based violence (GBV) for both police and military officers across Belize. These sessions were meant to help officers understand the seriousness of domestic violence and how to respond with compassion and understanding.
Yet, we are deeply frustrated that, despite all the sessions, despite all the training, some officers and institutions still do not fully understand the most basic part of their job: to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
We also face the troubling reality of domestic violence hotlines and 911 operators that often go unanswered; essential lifelines where those in need are left hanging. It’s disheartening to consider that these phone operators sometimes neglect the calls of vulnerable individuals, leaving them without the critical support and protection they desperately seek.
The Office of the Special Envoy calls for immediate accountability from the Belize Police Department, the courts, and all institutions tasked with protecting victims of abuse. We call for a full review of how bail is granted in cases of domestic violence, and for stronger enforcement of restraining orders and victim safety measures.
This cannot be another case we talk about for a few days and then forget. We owe Angelita, Tishan, and Shadia better. We owe every mother, every child, and every survivor of abuse the promise that the system will not fail them again.
The Office of the Special Envoy, together with SCLAN, remains committed to strengthening national systems of protection, deepening officer accountability, and ensuring that gender-based violence is treated as the urgent national crisis it is. We will continue to advocate for stronger policies, faster responses, and a justice system that truly serves and protects.
Let us not wait for another mother, another child, another family to suffer before we decide that enough is enough.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call Minister Kareem Musa and the Commissioner of Police, who are the persons responsible for ensuring that help is always available.
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The post “The System Failed This Family” – Office of the Special Envoy Condemns the Brutal Killing of a Mother and Her Two Children appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 4:33 pm CST. For Immediate Release The Office of the Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children expresses deep
The post “The System Failed This Family” – Office of the Special Envoy Condemns the Brutal Killing of a Mother and Her Two Children appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
