Manuela Alvarado López is a Guatemalan indigenous activist and politician. A founding member of Semilla party, she is member of the Central American Parliament for Guatemala since 2024, having been elected in 2023 general election.[1]

Manuela Alvarado
Member of Central American Parliament
for Guatemala
Assumed office
14 January 2024
Member of the Congress of Guatemala
In office
14 January 1996 – 14 January 2000
ConstituencyQuetzaltenango
Personal details
BornCantel, Quetzaltenango
Political partySemilla
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Front New Guatemala

Biography edit

Alvarado is a Kʼicheʼ Mayan, she worked as a nurse and primary school teacher in her native Cantel, Quetzaltenango. Subsequently, Alvarado was a community leader. She was elected as the representative of Mayan women in the National Council for Peace Agreements.[2]

She was elected as a member of Congress for Quetzaltenango Department for Democratic Front New Guatemala party in 1995 general election. She took office on 14 January 1996 and became one of the first Mayan women to win a seat.[3][4]

As a member of Congress, she chaired the Legislative Women's Commission in 1997. During her term, a first bill was presented to criminalize sexual harassment and discrimination. After, she served on the Legislative Finance Commission.[3] She did not run for re-election and left Congress in 2000.

Alvarado returned to politics as founder of Semilla party. She occupied second place on the party list for the Central American Parliament in 2023 general election and was elected.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Ola, Ana Lucía (16 July 2023). "Así será la representación de Guatemala en el Parlacén, con 20 diputados titulares de nueve partidos políticos". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ^ Usi, Eva (27 January 2012). "Paz para Colombia". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Giving Voice to the Majority: an Interview with Quiche Maya Legislator Manuela Alvarado". Hartford Web Publishing. 11 March 1997. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Las mujeres y las elecciones nacionales". Gazeta (in Spanish). 16 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.