At the core of the Equal Opportunities legislation is really a very simple, yet often misunderstood tenet: everyone deserves equal treatment and protection under the law.
Everyone.
In Belize, while we embrace our diversity and, for the most part, respect each other’s differences, our shared values are often not enough to protect us from discrimination of all kinds.
This is why – one reason at least – the passing of the Equal Opportunities Bill is so important. The legislation identifies 21 protected characteristics; these are areas of identity or lived experience where people in Belize are most often treated unfairly or excluded.
By passing a law to protect these 21 characteristics, every Belizean can live, work, learn, and access services without fear of discrimination.
That is why we say: Protect 21. Protect Everyone.
What Are the 21 Protected Characteristics—and Why Do They Matter?
1. Age
2. Sex
3. Gender
4. Sexual Orientation
5. Gender Identity
6. Disability
7. Health Status
8. HIV Status
9. Pregnancy
10. Maternity
11. Breastfeeding
12. Marital Status
13. Family Status
14. Domestic Violence Survivor Status
15. Race
16. Ethnicity
17. Indigenous Status
18. Religion or Belief
19. Political Opinion
20. Nationality or Immigration Status
21. Intersection of Multiple Characteristics
The Equal Opportunities Bill does not create “special rights” for one group or the other; it creates equal protection for everyone. Each characteristic represents a situation that any Belizean could experience – now or in the future. Illness, aging, pregnancy, family responsibility, disability, or beliefs are part of ordinary life. When the law protects people at their most vulnerable place, it strengthens society as a whole.
In many ways, the Equal Opportunities Bill is about who we are as a nation – who we want to be, as Belizeans. If Belize is for all Belizeans, then no one should be left behind because of who they are or what they have experienced.
It’s time for Belizeans to start standing for Belizeans, and for Belize, together, in mass and intentionally. Now is the time to say: Protect 21. Protect Everyone.
Pass the Equal Opportunities Bill.
