The Human Rights Commission of Belize is deeply disturbed by the events that transpired in police detention prior to the passing of Ulysses Roca Terry.
The Human Rights Commission of Belize is deeply disturbed by the events that transpired in police detention prior to the passing of Ulysses Roca Terry. HRCB notes that this has become a trend within elements that should be protecting the rights of individuals and preserving human dignity and their constitutional rights as citizens. The Ulysease Roca matter is but the latest of recent incidences of concern.
We call on the authorities to transparently investigate, the elderly gentleman landlord who was beaten for an alleged violation of curfew in the San Martin area of Belmopan. This vile abuse of a senior citizen is unfortunately becoming norm from some members of our Police Forces.
The video of two individuals, one who is mentally challenged forced to engage in a sex act, purportedly instigated by member of our security forces, is deplorable, and a grave abuse of their rights and is condemned.
We implore the Ministry of National Security and the Commissioner of Police to act swiftly in their investigations and remove those officers found to be in contravention of their duties. We call on them to make the findings of these investigations public. Only so, will confidence be regained in our authorities. The Judiciary and Attorneys should be on Schedule 1 of S.I. 55 of 2020 and Visiting Justices to our places of confinement must be brought back into effect.
The Government of Belize and by extension, law enforcement officers have an obligation to take effective steps for the prevention, treatment and control of the pandemic COVID-19. They must ensure that response measures to COVID-19 do not target or discriminate against the restrictions on rights and that the declaration of the state of emergency be lawful, necessary and proportionate.
Restrictions such as mandatory quarantine or isolation of people must, at a minimum, be carried out in accordance with the law and that its citizens are afforded the rights to freedom of expression and access to information during the State of Emergency (SOE). Their rights must not be eroded. Mistreatment must not be tolerated, and the basic rights of a phone-call, access to family and/or attorney, giving of health, psychological or other treatment must not be denied.
The scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic clearly justifies restrictions on certain rights, such as those that result from the imposition of quarantine or isolation limiting freedom of movement. However, this should be done with transparency and respect for human dignity. This will foster an effective response amidst the unprecedented time and disruption from our citizens who will be able to trust that their interest are being upheld by those mandated to protect us.
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President – Human Rights Commission of Belize
Email: info@hrcbz.org | hrcbbz@gmail.com
Contact: 501 822 0373 | Cell: 635 4503