By Zoila Palma: Belize participated in the Second Gathering of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Security, held from October 21 to 23, 2026, at the National Congress of Chile in Valparaíso.
Hosted by the National Congress of Chile and ParlAmericas, the gathering focused on “Public Security in the Americas and the Caribbean: Parliamentary Responses to Organized Crime and Violence.”
President of the Senate, Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, represented the National Assembly of Belize and served as moderator of one of the working sessions.
Participants examined regional security trends, shared national experiences, and discussed ways parliamentary action can strengthen public security policies while upholding human rights and the rule of law.
Discussions addressed illicit economies and the financing of criminal networks, the effects of insecurity on communities, and the balance between effective crime-fighting measures and human rights protections.
On October 22, Trench-Sandiford moderated a session titled “Public Security and Justice: Institutional Capacities to Address Crime,” which featured presentations by representatives of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas and the Inter-American Children’s Institute.
The final day focused on intelligence systems, parliamentary oversight of public security, and the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen state capabilities.
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