Speaker: Marcela
Job title: organization and policy advocacy officer
Company: Asociación LAMBDA

About the spreaker
Marcela Regina Morales Flores is a Guatemalan human rights advocate specializing in organizational strengthening, public policy advocacy, and institutional development for civil society organizations, with a particular focus on advancing and protecting the rights of LGBTIQ+ communities. She currently serves as Organization and Advocacy Officer at Asociación Lambda, where she leads initiatives focused on strengthening community-based organizations, coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships, building institutional capacities, monitoring development projects, and implementing advocacy strategies aimed at promoting equality, inclusion, and human rights. Her work focuses on enhancing political participation, access to justice, organizational sustainability, and leadership development for LGBTIQ+ organizations across Guatemala. Throughout her professional career, Marcela has coordinated capacity-building initiatives, provided technical assistance to grassroots organizations, and fostered partnerships among civil society organizations, government institutions, and international cooperation agencies. She has contributed to the design and implementation of institutional strengthening methodologies, organizational sustainability assessments, strategic planning processes, social change communication campaigns, and monitoring frameworks that support long-term organizational resilience. Her experience also includes developing technical reports, conducting human rights research, documenting human rights violations affecting LGBTIQ+ communities, and producing evidence-based analyses that inform advocacy efforts and public policy discussions at both national and international levels. Marcela has actively engaged with government institutions, national and international organizations, and human rights networks to promote dialogue, collaboration, and collective action toward more inclusive, equitable, and rights-based societies. She has represented Guatemala in national and international forums dedicated to human rights, sharing experiences and best practices on community resilience, organizational development, and the challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ communities in Latin America. Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing equality, strengthening civil society, and promoting sustainable social change through inclusive leadership and strategic advocacy. Marcela firmly believes that empowered communities, institutional sustainability, and collaborative advocacy are essential pillars for achieving lasting social transformation and ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights for all.