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This event will be held in-person and livestreamed (4:30-5:30 p.m. ET). All in-person guests must RSVP to attend. Click the link above or here to register.

About the Event

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death.”  – John F. Kennedy. 

Ambassador Francisco Villagrán was one of Guatemala’s greatest statesmen and emblematic figures. Villagrán was a transcendental figure in ensuring Guatemala’s transition to democracy during crucial and difficult moments in the country’s history. He was an anti-corruption crusader, worked tirelessly in support of the rule of law, and strong institutions as the cornerstone of democratic governance. He navigated and managed, with astuteness, grace and humility, difficult national and international political landscapes. He was honest, modest and bright, firm in his convictions, determined in his actions, a defender of democratic principles and human rights. In his final years, he had a clear focus, helping to define a path forward for Guatemala to achieve a stable democracy.

Please join the National Endowment for Democracy and Be Just to celebrate and honor the life and memory of this exceptional diplomat and to reflect on the challenges and opportunities for Guatemala’s democracy today.

About the Speakers

Video Greeting
Bernardo Arévalo
President of the Republic of Guatemala

Speakers
Damon Wilson, (welcoming remarks)
President and CEO, National Endowment for Democracy

Ambassador Hugo Beteta, (opening remarks)
Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to the United States

Ambassador Claudia Escobar
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the Organization of American States

Ambassador Stephen G. McFarland
Former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala

Arturo Valenzuela
Emeritus Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University; Former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs

Arturo Villagrán
Legal Scholar, nephew of the late Ambassador Francisco Villagrán

Aimel Rios Wong, (moderator)
Senior Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, National Endowment for Democracy

Please email press@ned.org to register as a member of the press. Follow the conversation on Twitter @NEDemocracy using #NEDEvents