First indigenous Miss Panama wows UN,OAS

A day after speaking in a United Nations panel to mark Indigenous People’s Day in New York, on Thursday. August 10, Miss Panama 2018, Rosa Montezuma,  got a standing ovation at  the Washington headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS).

The young Panamanian, the country’s first indigenous Miss Universe contestant closed the segment of the rights of indigenous women with a speech on empowerment, inequality and even sexual education.

Wearing a traditional nagua dress she told an audience of ambassadors and delegates from across the Americas: “We continue to be considered inferior, uneducated, discriminated against by our clothing and especially our essence. “

“As a representative of Panamanian woman, I bring to this stage the voice of my country and from my indigenous people, a voice that has found it difficult to reach these  international scenarios more so for  women, who have been  marginalized from our culture and from our countries, “

She explained that in Panama, indigenous women are affected by poverty, due to their indigenous status and the gender issue, and the issue of sexual education and reproductive rights generates a “disturbing and urgent  debate on our future as a people”