The Guatemalan Congress will be the venue for the “Encounter for Religious Freedom, Life, and Family,” which will bring together legislators, political representatives, social leaders, and international experts on September 24 and 25 to build a common agenda.
“This meeting seeks to consolidate a space for dialogue and cooperation among Guatemalans, convinced that protecting life, guaranteeing freedoms, and strengthening the institution of the family are essential for the progress and integral development of our nation,” explains Congressman Ronald Portillo, host of the event.
The initiative is organized by the Guatemalan Congress’s Parliamentary Front for Religious Freedom, the Family Matters Association (AFI-Asociación la Familia Importa), and the Political Network for Values (PNfV).
“Religious freedom, life, and family are at risk in various parts of the world, but in Guatemala they are still widely appreciated and are at the roots of our society. We seek to generate synergies and solid commitments among decision-makers in favor of these issues,” explains Ligia Briz, executive director of AFI.
Rodrigo Iván Cortés, vice president of the PNfV board of directors, emphasizes that he will address fundamental guarantees recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): the protection of life in Article 3, the family as a natural element of society in Article 16, and religious freedom in Article 18.
International voices
Among the international experts participating in the encounter are: Valerie Huber, president of the Institute for Women’s Health (IWH) and promoter of the Geneva Consensus, a coalition of countries in favor of promoting women’s health and strengthening the family; Fernando Sánchez Campos, rector of the Catholic University of Costa Rica; and Scott Isaacson, researcher at Brigham Young University’s International Center for Law and Religious Studies and regional advisor for Latin America.
Also participating are Julio Pohl, legal advisor to ADF International in Latin America, and Marcelo Bartolini, director of Article 18 and researcher at the Center for Advanced Social Research (Centro de Investigación Social Avanzada ) in Mexico.
High-level meetings
On the first day, September 24, the focus will be on the legislative sphere, with panels that will allow interaction between local leaders and international experts, and the design of a common agenda. At the end of the day, there will be a meeting with young leaders. On the second day, September 25, there will be a dialogue with representatives of the Executive and Judicial powers, in private meetings.
The encounter is a pioneering initiative that offers a space for dialogue and allows for the sharing of experiences, the development of alliances, and the positioning of Guatemala as a reference in the region.
In addition to the organizers, the event is supported by the Permanent Forum for Religious Freedom, the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, ADF International, and the Guatemalan Tourism Institute.
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More information:
Diego de Jesús Hernández
Director of Communications, PNfV
Phone and WhatsApp: +55 31 9 9456 1430
