Guatemala city, by AGN- Brenda Larios. – President Alejandro Giammattei, during his participation in the Annual International Religious Freedom Summit, emphasized that he will continue to defend life from conception, the institution of the family, and religious freedom in Guatemala.
“I assumed office as president on January 14, 2020, and I swore on the Political Constitution to defend it and ensure that it is protected. According to article 3 of the Political Constitution, the State of Guatemala respects life from its conception.”
In this context, the president highlighted that among the actions of the government of Guatemala is the creation of a public policy to promote life from conception to natural death.
“As a Catholic, as a doctor, as president, in every aspect I see the obligation to respect life from its very conception,” he said.
This meeting took place within the framework of the working trip carried out by the Guatemalan president in Washington D.C., United States.
Public Policy
In his speech, the president informed that as a country, a public policy was created to respect life from conception to natural death.
“We have started to create a public policy in which we managed to integrate 99 programs and projects to protect life until death and which was enacted on July 20, 2021”, he mentioned.
The Public Policy for the Protection of Life and the Institution of the Family 2021-2032 aims to guarantee the well-being and protection of life and the institution of the family in all its stages, from conception to adulthood.
Core Areas
Interventions include actions between different institutions, which promote the integral development of the individual and his/her family, guaranteeing the right to health, education, nutritional security, employment, and better living conditions.
This policy was divided into four main areas: the protection of life and the institution of the family:
Prenatal stage and early childhood
Childhood and adolescence
Youth and adulthood
Protection of life and the institution of family in older adulthood.
Pro-Life Capital
The president also highlighted the designation of Guatemala as the Ibero-American Pro-life Capital, on March 9th, 2022.
“We were declared Ibero-American Pro-life Capital, and on March 9, at Palacio Nacional de Guatemala, we revealed a monument for life,” he stated.
Over 22 countries and 60 delegations participated in the event. More than five thousand people gathered at the Plaza de la Constitución to celebrate this designation. All the leaders of the different religions in Guatemala were gathered together.
“It was incredible; ministers of all the religions in Guatemala were present. We saw a rabbi shaking hands with an Imam (it is a leadership position in Islam), a pastor with a Catholic bishop,” he added.
Multi-Religious Board
The president stated that on April 29th of this year, a multi-religious board was established with the participation of more than 24 religious entities in the country.
“For the first time in history, the president met with all religions in Guatemala. And, what brought us together? Our faith and the belief that life must be respected from its conception is what brought us together,” he pointed out.
Members of the government cabinet and members of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable of the United States participated in this meeting.
According to the Secretariat for Planning and Programming of the Presidency Segeplan, this was the first of several multi-religious meetings that will be promoted this year.
Furthermore, the president said that he designated a presidential commissioner who will guarantee a permanent dialogue with all religions to make this process of religious freedom a reality.
Call to Unity
Meanwhile, the president stressed the importance of working together with the same faith, to defend life from conception to adulthood.
“I want to reiterate here, in front of you, my commitment to life, family, and peace. I am sure that Guatemala will be a lighthouse for all the nations, I do not doubt it,” he stated.
He referred to Guatemala as follows: “It is a small country, we can compare ourselves to a state, and I believe we are the size of Tennessee or Kentucky. However, we are a country of faith. Most Guatemalans practice a religion.”
