Guatemala City by Brenda Larios -AGN- On March 9, 2022, the Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family named Guatemala the Pro-Life Capital of Ibero-America. One year later, the current administration reaffirms its commitment to preserving life and families of Guatemalans.
The authorities of the three branches of government commemorated the first year in a special ceremony in the Patio de la Vida of the National Palace of Culture.
President Giammattei stated, “Today is a great day because Guatemala celebrates life, and while the world crumbles, the country stands strong by the most important thing, the family.”
Likewise, he reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to advance the programs in the Public Policy for the Protection of Life and the Institution of the Family 2021-2032.
Monument Replicas
The President of Guatemala announced the plans to install eight replicas of the monument in the Patio de la Vida in the National Palace of Culture throughout the country this year.
The sculpture is a golden semisphere. It shows the American continent, with a beam of light coming from Guatemala. The president mentioned that the replicas would be at:
- Totonicapán
- San Marcos
- Baja Verapaz
- Quetzaltenango
- Izabal
- Suchitepéquez
- Sololá
- Jutiapa
Yesterday, one of these replicas was unveiled at the Guatemala Provida room, formerly the Pasos Perdidos, in the Congress of the Republic.
The head of government stated: “In Guatemala, we love life; with this, we strengthen the ties of our country, but above all, the ties of peace that unite Guatemalans.”
Likewise, he stated that the Executive Branch is willing to comply with the mandate of the Political Constitution of the Republic to defend life from conception to natural death as a state commitment.
Regarding Politics
As part of the progress presented at the event, the Public Policy for Life Protection and the Institution of the Family was created for 2021-2032.
“These are specific actions with which we have proven in recent years that it is possible to work in favor of life with facts, with public investment, but above all, with policies designed to fulfill faith’s values and commitments that unite us,” said the president.
Interventions include inter-institutional actions that promote the integral development of each individual and their families, ensuring the right to health, education, food and nutritional security, employment, and better living conditions.
The policy was divided into four axes according to the stages of life:
- Prenatal and early childhood
- Childhood and adolescence
- Youth and adulthood
- Elderly adulthood
Inter-institutional coordination
The programs led by institutions are strengthened through family support. This seeks to promote integration, autonomy, and family coexistence, stimulating the different stages of life that the policy addresses.
This policy unifies 99 programs that several central government institutions execute. The investment for these programs is over USD 3 billion, as mentioned by the Secretary of Segeplan.
For this, parenting strategies, prenatal controls, and the strengthening of socio-family bonds are promoted.
Access to programs that allow for the integral development of young people and adults and their insertion into formal employment and access to entrepreneurship is also strengthened to ensure income security.
Likewise, efforts are concentrated on generating social assistance for the elderly, prioritizing health and food security attention.