The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, sanctioned Law 301, which establishes measures for the integral development of the indigenous peoples of Panama with the objective of establishing equity in public investment and the bases to achieve sustainable and integral development.
The new law states that the State recognizes the Comprehensive Development Plan for the Indigenous Peoples of Panama as a guide for the development of policies, programs and projects, as well as for the inclusion of the priorities of indigenous peoples in the Government Strategic Plan.
With this new norm, the sectoral institutions, in coordination with the political-administrative institutions of the indigenous peoples, will prepare and adopt the indigenous development plans in their policies, programs and sectoral investment projects. These plans will take into account the impacts of climate change on indigenous territories and must promote public investment to mitigate the risks of this and adaptation, in accordance with the priorities of indigenous peoples.
Likewise, each ministry and State institution is obliged to consult and coordinate with the indigenous peoples the plans, programs and projects that they are going to carry out in the indigenous territories and communities in accordance with Law 37 of 2016.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance will establish a public investment monitoring system, with uniform criteria, that will allow identifying and classifying the resources destined to reduce existing inequalities and gaps in indigenous territories and communities, facilitating accountability at the sectoral level. . In addition, the ministries with investments in indigenous territories will adopt a monitoring system for policies, programs and projects in indigenous territories and communities, in accordance with the criteria established by the MEF.
The Law also explains that each state institution must present to the Ministry of Government periodic reports on the implementation of policies, programs and projects in indigenous territories and communities, in accordance with the criteria established in the public investment monitoring system.
Finally, Ampyme will promote and support, through a specialized program of technical assistance and access to financing.
