Belize is a constitutional parliamentary democracy whose Prime Minister heads the Cabinet and legislature. The Governor General is head of state, and the National Assembly consists of a 29-seat elected House of Representatives and a 12-seat appointed Senate. Elections are held at least every 5 years on the basis of universal suffrage and secret ballot. The ruling party holds a majority of 22 seats in the House, where there are 2 women members. A woman was appointed House Speaker, and 3 Senators are women. Mestizo, Creole, Maya and Garifuna representatives were also elected to the House. The judiciary is independent in law and in practice. Police are accused of excessive force and torture.

Discrimination on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex is prohibited. Ethnic tensions have risen with the recent arrival of immigrants from Central America and Asian.

Corruption is reported to have worsened. Media reports detail misuse of millions of dollars in public funds to shore up the business interests of well-connected citizens. Questions have also been raised over the sale of public lands and assets for much less than market value. 45% of the population live in poverty. The economy is based on agriculture, while tourism is the principal source of foreign exchange earnings. Freedom of speech and of the press are respected. Public access to government documents is available on written request.

Belize is a transit and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of labour and sexual exploitation. Labour exploitation of men and women in Belize's banana, sugar cane and citrus industries is reported. Some Chinese and Indian people have been trafficked to Belize in debt bondage. The government does not yet comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making efforts to do so.

2.5% of the population is reported as HIV-positive. Social discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS is evident, and the government has instituted public education efforts through the National AIDS Commission.

Education is compulsory for ages 5 to 15. Secondary education programmes (general secondary school, apprenticeship programmes and vocational institutions) can only accommodate half the children who complete primary school. The cost of school books, uniforms and other fees puts education out of reach for many children. Tuition is free in some of the government schools, but religious schools that receive public funds for education charge varying rates for tuition.

There is a large drop in enrolment at the end of compulsory schooling. Truancy and dropout rates generally are high. Pregnant students are expelled and must wait a year before applying for re-admission. An unofficial policy of non-tolerance of unwed pregnant teachers resulted in the dismissal of a teacher, who has since won a US$150,000 (BZ$300,000) lawsuit against the Catholic school that dismissed her.

Girls from economically disadvantaged families, who are of high-school age, are reported to have sex with older men in return for money to pay school fees and buy books.

A 2-year ECE programme begins at age 3. At this level 3,765 children (50% female) are enrolled, and all ECE is provided privately. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 27%. Of the 222 teachers who work at this level, 99% are women, and only 7% are trained. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 17 : 1.

82% of primary education is reported as private, but this may be because religious groups that receive public funds operate primary schools that are classed as private for statistical purposes. The NER is 94% (49% female). 2,109 teachers (72% female) are employed in primary schools, and 51% of them are trained. The PTR is 23 : 1.

Secondary education begins at the age of 11 years and the programme takes 6 years to complete. 11% of students receive technical/ vocational education (9% in lower and 15% in upper secondary). The NER is 71%. 6% of students repeat a grade. There are 1,540 secondary teachers, 1,250 in lower secondary and 390 in upper secondary. 43% of secondary teachers are trained. The PTR is 19 : 1.

722 students are enrolled in university. 3% of tertiary education is privately provided. The Gross Enrolment Rate is 3%. Of the 97 academics working at this level, 49% are women. In recent years, the proportion of women in higher education has increased, and it is reported that 70% of students at the University of Belize are women. Students from Belize study in the USA (501), Cuba (133), the UK (44), Jamaica (33) and Germany (15). The Centre for Human Rights within the University of Belize aims to further human rights education at the tertiary level.

Legally, discrimination is forbidden against persons with disabilities in education and in other state services, but it exists. Responsibility for the provision of services to the disabled has been transferred from the government to private companies and NGOs. Children with disabilities have access to government special education facilities, but only if they meet strict programme criteria.

Incarcerated juveniles live in a newly built facility outside the main prison. The young offenders programme includes 16 hours a day of structured schooling, exercise and vocational training.

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, but the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees.

Among the country's indigenous people, the Mopan and Ke'kchi are grouped under the general term Maya. Specific information is not provided on their educational opportunities.

Reports do not indicate restrictions of academic freedom or of access to the Internet.

Despite constitutional provisions for equality, women face social and economic prejudice. It is harder for women to find employment, and they are concentrated in female-dominated occupations with low status and wages. Few women hold top managerial positions. The law mandates equal pay for work of equal value, but women have a median monthly income of US$353 (Bz$706), compared with US$374 (Bz$748) for men.

The law prohibits sexual harassment, but it continues to occur. Domestic violence and discrimination against women remain problems. Reports are increasing of parents selling their female children to older men.

Child labour is common. The Labour Act prohibits employment of children under age 12 and prohibits the employment of children aged 12 to 14 during school hours on school days. Children continue to work on family farms and in family businesses. The minimum age for employment for work near hazardous machinery is 17. The ITUC reports that child labour laws are not well enforced. The Central Statistical Office (CSO) estimates that 6% of children aged 5 to 17 work, half of these in hazardous conditions.

Teenage girls work as domestic servants, while girls who are trafficked work as barmaids and prostitutes.

Workers can form and join trade unions. There are 8 independent unions representing about 11% of the labour force. Most civil service employees are unionised. Union members of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize must hold annual elections of officers. Some employers are reported to fire union activists.

Collective bargaining is practised, and wages are set through negotiation. The right to strike is recognised, except for public sector workers in essential services, which are broadly defined. The Essential Services Act allows the government to send a dispute to binding arbitration to prevent or end a strike.

There are no unions in the export processing zones. Forced or bonded labour is prohibited but occurs, especially among East Indians. Chinese migrants are trafficked for labour purposes and forced to work in local sweatshops. The hourly minimum wage is US$1.12 (BZ$2.25), except for domestic workers in private households, shop assistants in stores where liquor is not consumed and in export industries, where it is US$1.00 (BZ$2.00). The national minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The law sets the work week at no more than 6 days or 45 hours.