Featured Voices

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

W

X

Anabella de Leon

Latin America and the Caribbean Political and Public Leadership
Global Leadership Awards SEVEN

In her fight against corruption, Anabella de León has made headlines and dangerous adversaries. A rare product of meritocracy in Guatemala, she worked her way out of poverty and into the halls of Congress. One of her earliest legislative actions was participating in the Guatemalan Peace Accords, which ended 36 years of violent civil war. A fierce advocate for women’s equal rights, Anabella battles the discrimination and prejudice that disadvantage Guatemala’s indigenous population.

Since Anabella’s election in 1995, she has boldly pursued transparency, promoting the rule of law in a country with a notorious legacy of corruption. A stream of death threats has made it necessary that bodyguards be at her side, and the Organization for American States (OAS) has even granted Anabella a protected “precautionary measures” status. Yet, she continues in her struggle with formidable determination.

During a visit to Guatemala in 1998, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton first met Anabella, who has been involved with Vital Voices ever since. Her courageous story is profiled in our documentary play, SEVEN.

Anabella is currently serving her fourth term in Congress as Third National Secretary of the Patriotic Party.