A/HRC/25/13 16. Human rights must be realized in all their dimensions: legal, social, political and economic. In that regard, the Government had taken a rights-based approach to development. Respect for human rights was a guiding principle of Horizon 2030, its national development blueprint. National development and the full realization of the human rights of all Belizeans were two sides of the same coin. All Belizeans must be assured of a certain minimum standard of living, which served as a common basis for the full enjoyment of all human rights. 17. Belize subscribed fully to the aspirations of the Millennium Development Goals, and had worked assiduously since 2000, in concert with its development partners, to meet the goals. Belize had done fairly well in meeting its education and health targets. 18. Belize was actively participating in the inter-governmental discussions on the post2015 agenda and was commencing the realignment of its national development plans in anticipation of the new global development framework. 19. Belize was acutely aware that persistent pockets of poverty continued to pose a challenge to development; poverty remained an obstacle to the full realization of all human rights of all Belizeans. Poverty alleviation and the expansion of economic opportunities were the overarching objectives of the national development strategy and action plans. 20. Over the past five years, considerable efforts had been invested in the reform of the social protection systems of Belize, focusing in particular on the modernization of social safety net programmes. The Government had sought to guarantee social protection to key population groups, including older persons, children, people living with HIV/AIDS, women and youths. 21. At the center of Government efforts were a number of targeted interventions designed to support the poorest segments of the population in the areas of health and education. 22. The National Health Insurance scheme provided free and low-cost access to health care for those living in south-side Belize City and southern Belize, the poorest areas of the largest city and of the country, respectively. 23. The Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation (BOOST) initiative, a conditional cash transfer programme, provided cash grants for poor and indigent individuals and families. The cash transfers served as an incentive to keep children in school and ensured that they were up to date with their immunization protocols. The most recent data from the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation indicated that there were some 8,600 beneficiaries. Belize was most proud of its high rates of “bankerization” among its beneficiaries, with 96 per cent of those beneficiaries receiving benefits through credit unions. The positive effect of the BOOST programme was confirmed by a 2012 World Bank evaluation that concluded that the programme was showing some good results. 24. The Food Pantry programme provided a weekly basket of basic food items to beneficiaries at half the market price. Over 3,000 families were currently benefiting from the programme. 25. Health care and income security were the primary concerns for the elderly. To that end, the Government continued to support the Non-Contributory Pension programme for older persons, which provided coverage to approximately one quarter of the elderly population. Additionally, 48 per cent of the elderly population had access to the National Health Insurance scheme. 26. Belize had made significant gains in addressing the multiple challenges associated with HIV/AIDS. Notwithstanding a small increase in new infections in 2012, for four years 5