Care is a right: Panama launches its first pilot under the new Care Law

Panama has taken a firm step toward a more equitable and supportive society. With the enactment of Law 431 of 2024, the country joins the group of Latin American nations that recognize care as a human right and a shared responsibility. This legislation, which establishes the National Care System, marks a milestone in the region and places the country alongside leaders such as Uruguay and Colombia.

The law was enacted on April 25, 2024, and sets a regulatory framework to guarantee services, infrastructure, and professional training related to care. It also promotes gender co-responsibility by seeking to reduce the burden that has historically been assumed by women in unpaid care work. 

A pilot that transforms lives 

The implementation of the system has begun in the district of Juan Díaz, one of the largest in Panama City, with the launch of the pilot plan “Territories that Care.” This initial phase, led by the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), is supported by SISCA, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and technical assistance from UN Women.

The pilot includes a combination of key services such as home assistance for older persons, the “Rosario Salinero de Gago” Day House for older adults with mild to moderate dependency, and a Comprehensive Early Childhood Care Center (CAIPI).

Additionally, scholarships have been awarded to 79 individuals for a specialized diploma program offered by the Specialized University of the Americas (UDELAS), which aims to professionalize a historically underrepresented role. 

Voices from the community 

For Daniela Alejandra Shirley, a home care assistant, the diploma program was transformative. “It marked a before and after. It gave me confidence, professional support, and tools to provide quality care. Now, those who used to underestimate this work recognize it as specialized and essential,” says Shirley.

Scania García, a caregiver specialized in people with moderate or severe dependency, shares: “Training as a caregiver changed the way I work and see life. Care is about dignifying, accompanying, and professionalizing. This plan has transformed the culture of care in Juan Díaz.”

From civil society, Maribel González, Treasurer of the Association of Retirees, Pensioners, and the Elderly of Juan Díaz, Bienvenidos con Amor, highlights the social impact of the project. “Many women provide care without training or recognition. This law promotes equality, autonomy, and the well-being of families. It also strengthens the local economy,” González notes. 

The strategic role of UN Women 

Since 2022, UN Women has supported the design of the National Care System, contributing studies, diagnostics, forums, and technical assistance.

Dayanara Salazar, Programme Coordinator for UN Women Panama, stated that this progress goes beyond regulations. “Panama is building a care economy that dignifies this work and redistributes historically invisible responsibilities. It is social justice and development,” Salazar affirms.

The model already includes five new editions of the diploma program in other provinces, five local care roundtables supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), as well as inter-institutional partnerships with local governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

AECID and the UN Disability Fund have supported the success of the pilot. 

Challenges Ahead

Despite the initial momentum, the system faces significant challenges, including ensuring sustainable financing, expanding services to rural and indigenous areas, and consolidating effective intersectoral governance.

Nevertheless, the path is clear: Panama has begun to redefine care as a right, not a burden, and in that transformation, not only do care recipients benefit, but society as a whole does as well.