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And that's why Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin today launched the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean in Belize. Justice Michelle Arana explained that the systems as it currently stands, often re-victimizes victims. These new guidelines hope to change that:...

Justice Michelle Arana, Supreme Court of Belize
'Many cases unfortunately do not make it through to completion, as victims are often intimidated by the very idea of having to recount their experience and in that process relive the agony of the harrowing ordeal in court before a group of strangers."

"The present approach by the justice system to persons who have been sexually assaulted in many cases leaves the survivor with a sense of betrayal. Preliminary hearings where untrained or court clerks often leave evidence frequently if unwittingly traumatize survivors of sexual assault. It is therefore necessary for the justice system to find ways to improve the delivery of justice to these survivors, so that the system becomes more responsive to their needs."

"The aspirations expressed in the manual is that once the Caribbean region adopts these guidelines and implements them, this will lead to the following results as articulated by Sir Dennis Byron in the foreword to these guidelines. It should lead to, one: increase public confidence in the justice system as it relates to the handling of sexual offence sexual assault cases. Two: improve responses to survivors that will enable their full participation in the justice system, increase offender accountability and reduce secondary victimization. Three: Ensure a trained and skilled cadre of cross sectional professionals including judges, court personnel, police and attorneys to efficiently respond to sexual assault cases survivors and witnesses and four: speedy adjudication of cases and reduction of backlog overtime."

Judith Alpuche, CEO - Ministry of Human Development
"We know that the judiciary has been - we made less progress with the judiciary, in terms of dealing with these issues. In terms of moving to this more victim centered approach. So I think that we have come a long way and that's why today does my heart good in terms of this being another critical element in moving us forward."

"What we want is a system that doesn't add to that. That doesn't re-victimize, that does not blame the victim and really that is at the core of the work that has been ongoing for many years and this new framework, these new guidelines really compliment all the work, deepens and broadens the work that has been done in ensuring that the stakeholders that are manning the system, the police, health services, social services, the judiciary - that we are all coming from the same physiological base of ensuring the rights of victims."

The project is spearheaded by the Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening, known as the JURIST Project. They hope to have the Guidelines adopted by all countries in the region.