Overview:

• The recognition system is primarily focused on legal registration of organisations based on belief rather than existential recognition for belief systems and their derivatives; it seems that registration and recognition are amalgamated and that legal registration equates to existential recognition rather than the idealised differentiation between registration and recognition.

• The rule of mandatory registration violates the Bielefeldt provision.

Positive elements:

• Appropriate requirements for legal registration exist; informational requirements seem appropriate although monitoring is advisable.

• Procedures for legal registration and subsequently religious activity, including missionary activity, are not onerous.

• Horizontal recognition is applied.

Recommendations:

• Establish an independent recognition agency and provide greater differentiation on existential recognition with an adaptive and welcoming approach to new religious movements in order for Belize to be dynamic.

• Greater distinction needs to be made between registration processes for religious entities and secular entities.