Impelling Public Policy: A public health vision of Guatemalan women

In November 2005, the Guatemalan Legislature approved Central America's first “Universal and Equal Access to Familiar Planning and its Incorporation into the National Reproductive Health Program Law”. This law implements specific public policy to reduce gaps in access to family planning services and sexual education for all Guatemalans, especially indigenous and rural women. The new Law set in motion a series of high profile political and public debates on the need for, and legality of, the Law. In December 2005, the President vetoed the law arguing duplicity, unconstitutionality and financial infeasibility. Immediately, a network of women's and civil society organizations, including the Asociación Guatemalteca de Mujeres Médicas (AGMM) and the Instancia por la Salud de las Mujeres, launched a large scale political advocacy effort that resulted in a broad based alliance calling for approval of the Law. The Legislature overrid the Veto in January 2006, arguing that the Executive vetoed the law ahead of the stipulated time. In February, the Executive responded by challenging the Law in the Constitutional Court.

This political advocacy process produced national heated debate about family violence, sexual assault, adoption, STI and abortion. The power of the catholic and evangelical churches over the decisions of the Guatemalan Government, was again evidenced by a top catholic leader equating contraceptives with bullets in their capacity to kill.

Due to AGMM and others' advocacy efforts, Guatemalans benefit from the Law since it took effect in May 2006. The Government and Church continue to challenge the law in the courts.