Panama 12 February 2026. The Ministry of Culture of Panama will launch a set of institutional actions aimed at strengthening compliance, transparency, public ethics and the prevention of bribery through the implementation of the Integrated Compliance and Anti-Bribery Management System (SGCyAS), based on international standards ISO 37301: 2021 (SGCO) and ISO 37001: 2025 (SGAS).

That initiative, adopted by Ministerial Decree, makes MiCultura the first entity in the cultural sector to formally structure a technical, measurable and auditable system to prevent, detect and mitigate risks of non-compliance and bribery in its legal, administrative and financial processes.

The SGCyAS will be required to apply to all regional bureaux, officials, contractors, vendors and third parties linked to the ministry by setting clear rules of conduct, internal controls, monitoring mechanisms and clear responsibilities.

The main enforcement and anti-bribe actions to be undertaken are: The formal adoption of an institutional enforcement and anti-bribe policy, the designation of an independent enforcement function and delegated authority to supervise the system, the empowerment and promotion of an ethical line and confidential, anonymous and non-retaliatory complaint channel for the complainant and the integration of compliance and anti-bribe requirements into the procurement, treasury, accounting, budget, property, transport, warehouse and human resources subprocesses.

The conduct of regular internal audits and an annual high-level review will also be implemented. Mandatory training of officials and formal commitments to vendors and contractors and the introduction of measurable indicators with clear compliance and anti-bribery targets, such as zero bribery and 100 per cent compliance with compliance requirements.

The system will also have the active participation of entities such as ANTAI, the Comptroller General of the Republic, international agencies, cultural associations and other interested parties, who will have to comply with and align with the transparency policies established by the ministry.

The Compliance Function will be performed by the Director of the Office of Legal Advice, Sandra Cerrud and the Director of the Office of Institutional Development, Ricardo Tack.They will be responsible for technical monitoring, risk management, audits and monitoring of performance of the Compliance and Anti-Bribery Management System (SGCyAS).

A second phase of MiCultura will seek to get an independent and formally accredited third party certification body's integrated SGCyas (Compliance + Anti-Bribery) system certification under the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) accreditation scheme with a view to strengthening its compliance and being the first public entity in Panama to achieve this.

With this third party implementation and certification, the Ministry of Culture strengthens its commitment to accountability, institutional ethics and the construction of an organizational culture based on transparency, aligned with international standards of good governance issued by the international standards organisation (ISO) from its ISO / TC 390 Technical Committee.