Bill 447.

Summary.

The bill establishes the National Institute for Women (Instituto Nacional de la Mujer, INAMU) as a decentralized entity with legal personality, its own assets and administrative, budgetary, financial, technical and managerial autonomy. It places INAMU under the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) through the Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social), subject to oversight by the Office of the Comptroller General (Contraloría General de la República). It exempts the Institute from taxes, contributions and levies and grants it the State’s protections in judicial proceedings. It defines, among other terms, women’s autonomy, gender inequality and discrimination, care and shelter facilities, the National Council for Women (Consejo Nacional de la Mujer) and the National Committee against Violence toward Women (Comité Nacional contra la Violencia hacia las Mujeres).

Its objectives cover reducing inequalities, protecting rights, access to resources, coordinating public policy and ensuring a life free from violence. INAMU would design policies, monitor national and international legal instruments, and coordinate the prevention of and response to discrimination and violence. Its functions include research and reports; incorporating policy for women into the General State Budget with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas); assisting the Social Cabinet (Gabinete Social); institutional cooperation; and supporting women’s organizations. It would also regulate institutional mechanisms under Law 4 of 1999, prepare draft bills for the Cabinet Council (Consejo de Gabinete) through the Ministry of Social Development, and issue recognitions required by the Ministry of Government (Ministerio de Gobierno).

Its structure comprises a Board of Directors (Junta Directiva), a director general and a deputy director general, with the National Council for Women serving as an advisory body. The Board includes heads of government ministries, a Council representative and the Office of the Comptroller General, which may speak but not vote. It would approve the draft budget, requests for extraordinary appropriations and transactions involving assets. It would meet in ordinary session twice a year and adopt decisions with four (4) favorable votes. The president of the Republic would appoint the director and deputy from a list of three nominees proposed by the National Council for Women, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), for a five-year term with one additional term possible. The bill sets nationality, age, education, experience and criminal-record requirements; assigns duties to both positions; and establishes grounds for removal and rules on incompatible positions.

INAMU would have operating units and a unit for research, statistics and training, and could establish CINAMU centers in provinces and comarcas of the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá). It would establish short-stay shelters with external support under Law 82 of 2013. Its personnel would have to demonstrate appropriate qualifications and specialization. Its assets would include budget allocations, property, acquisitions and contributions received.

The bill amends Article 2 and item 11 of Article 8 of Law 29 of 2005 concerning the policy leadership of the Ministry of Social Development and the councils chaired by its minister. INAMU would assume the functions, agreements and commitments of the Ministry of Women and replace it in laws, documents and pending proceedings. It provides for a transition of no more than three (3) months, staff evaluation and reassignment, transfer of property and resources, a budget rule and repeal of the Women’s Equal Opportunities Investment Fund (Fondo de Inversión para la Igualdad de Oportunidades de la Mujer). It brings the Institute into the Administrative Career System, allows temporary appointments, repeals Law 375 of March 8, 2023, and provides for implementing regulations within sixty (60) days and commencement ninety (90) days after promulgation. The provisions concern the named public bodies, women’s organizations, care and protection providers, and private sectors collaborating in those services.