Table 22. Institutional Capacities - Protocols and Procedures Year
Institution
Document
Comments
2002
Family Court
Handbook
In need of review and modernization to account for Juvenile offences and other areas added to the purview of magistrates
2007
Department of Human Services
Policies and Procedures Manual
Further training needed for new social workers and improved data collection component to be added
2009
Community Rehabilitation Department
Policies and Procedures Manual
New draft procedures manual needs to be validates and implemented with training
2002
Health Department
Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy;
Full Implementation of Policy and other areas of planned health reform still not a reality
2008
Labour Department
National Child Labour Policy; Decent Work Agenda; National Workplace Policy for HIV/AIDS
Draft amendments to Labour laws need to be enacted to add enforceability to policy and procedural guidelines especially with regards to elimination of the worst forms of child labour and providing adequate protection for children who work.
Police Department
Policies and Procedures Manual
No comprehensive written policies and procedures manual in place. However, there are manuals for domestic violence intervention and draft protocols for sexual violence intervention by police. These need to be implemented with training.
2002
Women’s Department
Policies and Procedures Manual; National Gender Policy; Manual on Domestic Violence intervention
Manuals need to be updated; training of all staff needed, component for intervention for victims of sexual violence needs to be added
2008
Education Department
Education Handbook
New 2010 law and new education policies will require a new handbook and retraining of school managers needed
2002
Housing and Planning Department
Policies and Procedures Manual
No comprehensive Policies and Procedures manual for all units within the Ministry of Housing. The Central Building Authority has most up to date protocols following the amendments to the Building Act but lack the resources to properly implement and must work through Local Building Authorities made up of village counselors who are already stretched for resources and who do not have standardized and comprehensive development policies or plans that address crisis vulnerability and disaster preparedness building issues for residential facilities.
Belize Bureau of Standards; -Consumer Protection Unit -Supplies Control Unit; - Metrology Unit
Policies and Procedures Manual
Responsible for price controls and protection of qualities and standards for consumer goods but no comprehensive manual detailing the different roles of the various units within the Bureau. Policies for new draft Consumer Protection Bill needed.
Judiciary
Supreme Court Civil Procedure Rules
New Rules have streamlined some aspects of the delivery of judicial services but services still not readily affordable or accessible to everyone and there are still delays within the delivery of services at the Supreme Court level
NEMO
Policies and Procedures Manual
No comprehensive policy and procedures manual that sets put the authority and inter-sectoral coordination between NEMO and Public Services though public officers are mandatory relief officers and responders during natural disasters; no comprehensive plan to implement continuous training for public officers on first aid, shelter management, communication strategies, relief distribution before, during and after natural disaster.
2005
Youth for the Future
National Youth Development Policy
Draft exists and is being updated for implemention through the Ministry of Education and Youth
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Office of the Ombudsman
National Policies and Procedures Manual
Complaints Protocols and Forms have been developed in 2010 but in need of nation wide implementation and stronger enforcement policies.
2004
National Drug Abuse Council
Belize National Anti-Drug Strategy
In need of updating and staff and resources for implementation
2005
National AIDS Commission
National HIV/AIDS Policy; National Workplace Policy; Gender Policy
Centralisation of the Commission’s office and services in Belize District and delay in implementation of health reforms which affects access to services limits effectiveness of policies
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Department of Transport
Policies and Procedures Manual
No comprehensive written policies and procedures manual that covers the scope of the department’s work or a plan that establishes a strategy to reduce road accidents, one of the leading causes of death in Belize.
-
Central Building Authority
2004
108
Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Belize 2011