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Legal Reform in Belize
3 months - Belize
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During her 3 months in Belize, CWW volunteer Jenny Lau used her legal skills to draft reforms for the Families and Children Act. She worked with the National Council for Families and Children (NCFC), a quasi-government body in Belize.
During the three months of her placement, alongside the legal consultant, Jenny successfully produced a draft of proposed amendments to the Families and Children Act, Chapter 173. In addition they drafted and presented several long overdue regulations to accompany the Act. Through the amendments they were aiming to improve the Act’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and remove some unjustified gender biases and assumptions.
"The nature of my role meant that I became more confident working independently. Both my research and presentation skills have also vastly improved. The resource difficulties required me to become more innovative and flexible in my approach."
Since Jenny's placement a series of CWW legal volunteers have been working with the NCFC, each working with them to review a different area of law. At the end of 3 years, NCFC travelled to Geneva to have the proposed amendments - developed by the volunteers - approved by the UN. Approval was granted and the amendments are now law.
CWW has since continued working with the NCFC, recruiting legal volunteers to train social workers to represent children in court, addressing the shortage of qualified legal professionals available to represent children.
Through her Challenges Worldwide placement Jenny was able to appreciate the numerous difficulties facing policy makers in Belize as well as gain a better understanding of the intricacies of political and religious influences.
"The environment made it necessary for me to become much more diplomatic and creative when searching for possible solutions to different problems."
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If you are interested in doing a Placement similar to this one, contact us quoting Case Study Reference: Belize Legal Reform (NCFC)
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