The Minister of Social Development, Beatriz Carles de Arango, urged the legislative commission analyzing the bill to create the National Institute for Women (Inamu) on Tuesday to make a decision she described as 'historic.' She stated that the country can no longer postpone structural responses to inequality and violence affecting thousands of women. During her appearance before the deputies, the head of the Mides defended the initiative as a profound institutional change capable of implementing public policies with measurable results in favor of equal opportunities. 'For the third time, I appear before this Commission, as a woman and as a representative of the State, which has the constitutional and moral obligation to respond to women who have waited too long for equality, protection, and real opportunities,' the minister stated. In a direct message to the deputies, Carles de Arango asserted that the commission faces a decision that 'defines which side of history they want to be on.' She emphasized that the State's delayed response has perpetuated inequality and normalized violence against women. The minister highlighted that the bill proposes an institute with a binding and cross-cutting nature, capable of influencing the entire state apparatus. She explained that Inamu would have administrative autonomy, protected funding, and traceability mechanisms to ensure monitoring of the use of public resources allocated to programs for women. 'This is not about empty speeches. This is a decision for the women of Panama. We cannot wait any longer,' she concluded.
