Press Releases 2004

March 30, 2004

International Women´s Month Celebration

On Tuesday, March 30, Ambassador Watt and the U.S. Embassy honored seven outstanding Panamanian women for their achievements and dedication to their communities. The Ambassador hosted a special ceremony entitled “Women of the World: Sewing Seeds Today for Tomorrow” at her residence. The honorees were: Cecilia Rodriguez from Corotú, Comarca Ngobe Bugle, who was honored for her dedication to advancing the Ngobe society through her artistic abilities and leadership; Ana Marín of Ocú, who was honored for her pioneer spirit in overcoming traditional barriers against women to achieve success; Margarita de Cortés of Panamá City, who was honored for her energetic spirit of volunteerism and her daily commitment to the children of Panamá; Sister Dina Altamiranda of Colón, who was honored for her dedication to improving the lives of the women of Colón; Jorgelina Bogallo and Belka Bonnet of Puerto Quimba in the Darién, who were honored for achieving success in running a small family business, helping the fishing community solve some of their logistical problems, and finding a market niche for the products of the Darién; and Cacique Omayra Casamá of Ipetí Emberá, who was honored for setting an example of a female traditional leader who achieves success in the modern world. The honorees received plaques and certificates from the Embassy as a gesture of appreciation for their contributions to their communities.

In attendance at the ceremony were women representing all walks of life. Prior to the awards ceremony, the attendees were treated to a performance by the Orquesta de Cuerdas de Iniciación of the Youth Music School, directed by Professor Elena de Kitras.

In her remarks, Ambassador Watt emphasized the progress of women both in Panama and the world. She cited that in Panama, women compose the majority of students in higher education, 60% are registered to vote, and women represent half of the political party members. She also noted that despite these achievements, there is still a struggle to overcome, and women must strive to abolish the many inequalities and injustices that still exist.

Many of the attendees commented that after learning about the honorees, most of whom perform their work with modest financial resources, that they are inspired to commit themselves to furthering the progress of women and improving the lives of their communities.