Who are we?
The Office for Equal Opportunities, an entity attached to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Panama, aims at disseminating the intersectionality of disability to the internal and external level of the institution as well as the advice of officials and outside users with disabilities, at the organizational structure of the Ministry was located at the Advisory level.
Objective
To implement policies for social inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families by planning, coordinating and implementing programmes and projects for equal opportunities, training and institutional strengthening with a view to the development of persons with disabilities and their families at work, social and cultural level.
Duties of the Office
- To comply with existing standards with reference to matching opportunities with persons with disabilities in the areas of responsibility of the Ministry.
- To advise and promote the mainstreaming of social inclusion of persons with disabilities into all plans, programmes, projects and strategies that are developed at the institution for their full inclusion.
- To develop advocacy, information, training and development programmes with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities and to promote their participation and awareness.
- Ensure equal access to culture for people with disabilities so that they enjoy the cultural programs that are offered to the rest of society, by increasing the quality of cultural spaces and sites with historic and heritage value and by advising on solutions with disabilities to verify compliance with existing standards.
- To organize with the National Secretariat for Disability, compliance with policies for social inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families and with the human rights of users and officials, to ensure the best functioning of their services to the public.
- To implement the development of commitments and agreements with regard to matching opportunities for persons with disabilities to facilitate their full inclusion.
- To disseminate through articles, reports, statistics events and institutional actions related to the rights of persons with disabilities.
- To evaluate methodological resources to promote human rights and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities for knowledge of citizenship, while ensuring that cultural spaces comply with technical specifications for access to the environment to integrate persons with disabilities.
- Maintain data and statistics that will allow us to gain an understanding of the reality with regard to disability at the Ministry of Culture for future actions.
- To guarantee the exercise of the right to enjoy cinema, theater, museums, art, literature and other cultural activities through different accessible formats to facilitate their inclusion.
- To promote inter-agency and inter-agency co-ordination to ensure that the integration of persons with disabilities into the Ministry and its units is cross-cutting.
- To promote the development of cultural activities and events by private non-profit organisations that will allow and ensure participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
- To recognize the cultural and artistic achievements of persons with disabilities so as to raise awareness among the general public about their contributions and to professionally empower persons with disabilities to facilitate their incorporation into a productive cultural life.
Legislation
The adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted at New York by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13 December 2006.
That lays down equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Executive Decree No. 88 of 12 November 2002
"By regulating Act No. 42 of 27 August 1999 establishing an equal opportunity for persons with disabilities"
To amend Act No. 42 of 1999, which lays down equal opportunities for persons with disabilities for persons with disabilities.
Executive Decree 333 of 5 December 2019
That regulates Act No. 15 of 31 May 2016, amending Act No. 42 of 27 August 1999, thus providing for equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and other provisions.
Act No. 134 of 31 December 2013
That lays down economic equity for persons with disabilities.
Executive Decree No. 59 of 30 August 2016
That regulates Act 134 of 31 December 2013, which lays down economic equality for persons with disabilities.
Resolution 01-2019 of 3 December 2019
It adopts the rules of procedure of the National Disability Consultation Council.
Act No. 175 of 3 November 2020
General Act on Culture
Article 32: The state shall design and conduct public policies
- To guarantee the right of persons with disabilities to use their creative, artistic and intellectual skills both for their own benefit and to contribute to the development of the community.
- To ensure accessibility of spaces and facilities with cultural activities or with cultural services.
- To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to cultural materials and products in formats adapted to their specific needs.
- They recognize the cultural identity of persons with disabilities.
It can be communicated through our care channels:
- Mg. Lastenia González (Unit Manager) 501- 4050
Email: lgonzalez @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Mgtra. Lalys ArRocha (Social Worker Disability Specialist) 501- 4983
Email: iarrocha @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Mg. Thayred Bejarano (Psychologist) 501-4032
Email: tbejarano @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Lcda. Daysi Villamil (Social Worker) 501- 4937
Email: dvilamil @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Lcda. Hernández (Project Coordinator) 501-4031
Email: dhernandez @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Jashymir Bedoya (Interpreter).
Email: jbedoya @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Sheilla de Bosso (Administrative Assistant)
Email: scosso @ MiCultura.gob.pa - Yennifer Beleño Rodriguez (Secretary) 501- 4039
Email: ybeleno @ MiCultura.gob.pa
- Mg. Lastenia González (Unit Manager) 501- 4050
Cultural Accessibility Guide
