Biography 
Peace agreements signed in 1996 form the base of a comprehensive platform for socioeconomic development and democratization in Guatemala. Between 1991 and 1996, Luz Méndez participated in the peace negotiations as the only female member of the delegation of Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG), contributing to the incorporation of unprecedented commitments for gender equity in the accords. In 2004, she was elected to represent the women's movement in the national commission overseeing implementation of the peace accords. Ms. Méndez is the President of the Advisory Board of Union Nacional de Mujeres Gautemaltecas (UNAMG). She was the coordinator of a civil society alliance implementing a comprehensive process of psychosocial healing, educational campaigns, as well as advocacy for justice and reparations for women survivors of sexual violence during the armed conflict in Guatemala. A member of the Advisory Council of the Global Fund for Women, Ms. Méndez has contributed to women's inclusion and leadership in conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction in a number of countries. In 2000, she was a member of UNIFEM's gender experts team at the Burundi peace talks. In 2009, she was a speaker at the Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on Sexual Violence and Peace Negotiations looking for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1820. She holds a master's degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. (07.2009)