Publications

Belize carried out its last execution on 1985 and maintains a de facto moratorium on executions. Belize's last sentence was handed down in 2005, and by 2023, there are no longer any individuals on death row. The Supreme Court of Belize overturned the death sentence of the last individual remaining on death row in July 2015, finding its imposition in his case unconstitutional. In 2017 the Belize criminal code was amended to eliminate a mandatory death sentence for murder. Instead, the current legislation authorizes a sentence of either the death penalty or life imprisonment for murder.

This report recommends, among others, that Belize abolish the death penalty, ensure a fair and speedy trial for all persons suspected of committing crimes, guarantee equal protection under the law, and bring detention standards into compliance with international human rights standards.