LM Report 2004

Belize

Key developments since May 2003: Belize’s national implementation legislation was published in the National Gazette on 10 January 2004. Belize submitted its second Article 7 report on 7 May 2004.

Key developments since 1999: Belize became a State Party on 1 March 1999. Belize did not submit required annual Article 7 reports from 2000-2003. Belize has formally declared that it is not mine-affected and that it has no stocks of antipersonnel mines. Belize’s national implementation legislation was published in the National Gazette on 10 January 2004.

Belize signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 27 February 1998, ratified on 23 April 1998, and the treaty entered into force on 1 March 1999. Belize’s national implementation legislation was published in the National Gazette on 10 January 2004. It includes fines and imprisonment for violations of the Act, such as liability for $50,000 and imprisonment for seven years in case of persons possessing antipersonnel mines.^[1]

After participating in the Ottawa Process leading to the Mine Ban Treaty, Belize became the tenth nation to ratify the treaty globally and the second in the Western Hemisphere after Canada. Belize has attended one Meeting of States Parties—the Third Meeting in Managua, Nicaragua in September 2001—and none of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings. Belize has voted in favor of every annual pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996, including UNGA Resolution 58/53 on 8 December 2003.

Belize submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report on 4 November 1999. It did not submit the required annual updates in 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003. On 7 May 2004 Belize submitted its second Article 7 report, covering calendar year 2003.^[2] In the reports, Belize confirms that it has never used, produced, imported, or stockpiled antipersonnel landmines, including for training purposes, and is not mine-affected.^[3]

[1] “Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2003,” provided to Landmine Monitor (MAC) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Emergency Management of Belize, Ref. FA/UN/28/04, 17 June 2004.
[2] It previously submitted an Article 7 report on 4 November 1999, covering calendar year 1999.
[3] Article 7 Report, 7 May 2004; and Article 7 Report, 4 November 1999.