Biography
Peace agreements signed in 1996 form the base of a comprehensive platform for socioeconomic development and democratization in Guatemala. Luz Méndez, president of the Advisory Board to the National Union of Guatemalan Women, works for implementation, particularly of gender equality provisions. She was formerly general coordinator of the Union, which promotes women’s rights and gender-equitable political participation. Between 1991 and 1996, Ms. Méndez participated in the peace negotiations as the only female member of the delegation of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity, contributing to the incorporation of unprecedented commitments for gender equity in the accords. 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. She has been a consultant at trainings with high-level Iraqi, Israeli, Palestinian, and Colombian peace builder seeking to have a stronger voice in peace processes. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. (06.2004)