On 6 October 2026, the University of Belize (UB) and the Global Campus of Human Rights (GC) together with the GC Latin America and the Caribbean programme, co-organised the regional webinar “Understanding and Addressing Discrimination: Towards Equality and Inclusion in Belize and in Latin America and the Caribbean.” The event brought together participants from Belize, across the Caribbean, Latin America and beyond to explore the causes, manifestations and consequences of discrimination, while reflecting on pathways towards more equal and inclusive societies.
In her keynote address, Michelle Brathwaite, Regional Representative of OHCHR Caribbean Office, highlighted that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of international human rights law and stressed the need to address structural forms of discrimination.
Opening remarks were delivered by H. E. Erja Askola, Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas, who reaffirmed the importance of empowering young people through human rights education and civic engagement.
The panel discussion featured GC President and Judge at the Interamerican Court of Human Rights Prof. Verónica Gómez, Justice Antoinette Moore, Justice Lisa Shoman, and Víctor Madrigal-Borloz, former UN Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. Their contributions examined discrimination from legal, institutional and regional perspectives, including racial discrimination, gender equality, indigenous rights and LGBTQI+ inclusion.
Throughout the webinar, speakers underscored that meaningful inclusion requires not only legal protections but also institutional commitment, public awareness, participation and respect for human dignity. The event concluded with an engaging exchange between participants and panellists, reaffirming the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration in advancing equality across the region.
The event brought together about 80 attendees, including students, academics, human rights practitioners and civil society representatives from across the region and beyond.
This activity is part of the GC Capacity Development programme and was powered by the GC E-Learning Department. For more information, contact Adriano Remiddi – programme manager, Vukašin Pajović, and Larisa Barbu – programme officers at capacity.development@gchumanrights.org