Belize

The Belize Senate unanimously approved an amendment to the Marriage Act raising the legal marriage age to 18, eliminating parental consent for minors, in a move hailed as a transformative human rights milestone to combat child marriage

Tropical Storm Sara caused severe flooding in western Belize, inundating several communities and damaging infrastructure; prime Minister John Briceno pledged aid for affected residents and measures to prevent future flooding

A new website has been launched to improve public access to court information, judgments, and updates; the Senior Courts of Belize announced it as part of ongoing judicial modernization efforts

The North American Taiwanese Medical Association NATMA, conducted a five-day medical mission in Belize, treating nearly 1.800 patients and performing 56 surgeries to support underprivileged communities

This year’s Strategic Alliances International Partners Conference has begun; under the theme “Unlocking Climate Finance and Disaster Risk Financing for Sustainable Development" it also pursues a stronger collaboration with international partners

The Belize Fisheries Department has officially reminded the public of regulations for the Queen Conch season, which runs until June 2025; the restrictions include a ban on harvesting or possessing conch

PM John Briceño, while attending the UN Summit for the Future in New York, met with World Wildlife Fund CEO Carter Roberts to discuss raising funds for Belize's environmental initiatives, focusing on protecting the country’s marine and coastal resources

A new a digital education program has been introduced in Belize, aimed at teaching computer science and robotics to around 10.000 students across 40 primary schools; currently, over 200 teachers are being trained

The country is moving to end child marriage by proposing amendments to its Marriage Act to raise the legal age for marriage from 16 to 18, also eliminating provisions allowing minors to marry with parental consent

Belizean composer Errollyn Wallen has become the first Black woman to be appointed Master of the English King’s Music; she is known for her prolific work, which includes compositions for prestigious events like the Paralympic Games

Belize and the UN reaffirmed their partnership during the 4th Joint National Steering Committee, highlighting the UN Country Implementation Plan for 2025, which includes 161 projects to advance economic resilience, equality, climate, and justice

Throughout the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, Belize was represented by a single athlete, Shaun Gill, who proudly served as the country's flag bearer

Food prices in Belize surged over 6% these past months due to supply shortages caused by an extreme drought, with the Ministry of Agriculture exploring measures like increased vegetable production and protective structures to address the issue