May 11, 2009 - Lawton visits Guatemala for "Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality Conference."

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton arrived in Antigua, Guatemala to represent U.S. women elected officials, joining select global women leaders for “Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality Conference.” The Nobel Women’s Initiative, founded by the six women Nobel Peace Laureates, hosted the conference.  The founders are American Jody Williams, Irani Shirin Ebadi, Kenyan Wangari Maathai, Guatemalan Rigoberta Menchú Tum and, from Ireland, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire.

Left) Lt. Governor Lawton with Eva Mappy Morgan, Deputy Minister of Justice in Liberia second from right, and others.

The three-day program brought together nearly 100 women policy makers, politicians,  rights activists, researchers and journalists from national and international institutions to examine women’s experiences and engagement with democracy from both inside and outside the halls of power.

Participants shared strategies for overcoming the challenges women face around the world, specifically issues of violence against women, corruption, discrimination, and especially participation and representation in government.

Lt. Governor Lawton participated in a panel including Nobel Laureate and presidential candidate Rigoberta Menchu Tum, and Deputy Minister of Justice for Public Safety and Administration in Liberia Eva Mappy Morgan.  They addressed the importance of women working from within government and holding elected office to the legitimacy of a democracy.

Left) Conference participants.

Lt. Governor Lawton visited the Escuela Jim Smith (left) in the Balcones de Palin, a school named after her father.  Children provided a special program of local songs and dances, and the faculty met with the Lt. Governor to talk about challenges to providing very basic education for children in Guatemala.

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