Role of Ministry in alleviating domestic violence and abuse

The Ministry responsible for Social Development shall be responsible for– (a) promoting and developing educational programmes for the prevention of domestic (b) studying, investigating and publishing reports on the domestic violence problem in Belize, its manifestations and scope; the consequences and the options for confronting and eradicating it, in conjunction with the Belize Police Department; (c) identifying groups and sectors in society in which domestic abuse is manifested and educating these groups and sectors by making them aware of the skills required to combat (d) creating an awareness among society with regard to the needs of victims of domestic violence and their families; (e) developing strategies to encourage changes in the policies and procedures in government agencies in order to improve their response to the needs of the victims of domestic violence; 40 (f) the establishing of programmes on information support and counselling services for victims of domestic violence. (g) encouraging the establishment of shelters for (h) encouraging programmes of services for persons, including children and dependants who come from homes where there is abuse and violence. (i) providing training and orientation services for persons who assist in the treatment and counselling of any victims of domestic (j) analysing and carrying out studies on the need for education and retraining for persons who engage in conduct that constitutes domestic violence and abuse and for their rehabilitation.