Table 1. Statistics on Children’s Work and Education Children Age Percent

In 2013, Belize made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Government enacted a new law and amended an existing law to increase protections against the commercial sexual exploitation of children. In addition, the Government provided training on child labor issues to its labor inspectors and increased funding to a key social program to encourage school attendance. However, children in Belize continue to engage in child labor in agriculture and in the worst forms of child labor in commercial sexual exploitation. Important gaps remain in the country’s legal framework on the worst forms of child labor. In addition, the impact of many of the Government’s development and education policies and programs on child labor remains unknown. I. PREVALENCE AND SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD LABOR Children in Belize are engaged in child labor in agriculture and in the worst forms of child labor in commercial sexual exploitation.(1-5) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Belize