The Commission on Women, Children, Youth, and the Family gave the green light to the first debate on bill 447, an initiative that seeks to create the National Institute for Women and strengthen the State's presence in the defense, protection, and promotion of women's rights in Panama. The session was chaired by Deputy Alexandra Brenes, who stated that the debate was not easy. Nevertheless, the majority agreed that the country needs an entity with greater institutional weight to address the problems women face. Brenes pointed out that the project was thoroughly discussed and that all positions were heard. She assured that, despite disagreements, a minimum consensus was reached to move forward. «Approval in the first debate does not close the discussion,» she emphasized, making it clear that there is still room for adjustments and changes along the way. With this approval, bill 447 now moves to a second debate in the Legislative Assembly, where deputies can present modifications and observations before its final vote. It is expected that the topic will heat up again there. The proposal outlines the creation of an institution focused on gender equity, violence prevention, and the strengthening of mechanisms for the protection and promotion of women's rights, a topic that continues to generate debate in the Assembly and on the streets.
