also in this section Business & Economy Briefs

Don't ask me for a picture

by Earl Patrick Watson

The Panamanian Committee Against Racial Discrimination has organized a series of activities to promote the approval of a law that will govern the right to admission in public places. Such a law is in the preliminary stage of consultation and discussion. Attorney Alberto Barrow, a university professor and spokesperson for the committee, hopes to encourage the approval of the law prior to May 30, Panama's Black Ethnicity Day.

Kicking off an anti-racist campaign: left to right, the United Nations Information Center's secretary in-charge, Attorney Barrow and Antonio Reina, another member of the Panamanian Committee Against Racial Discrimination. Photo by Earl Patrick Watson

One of the ongoing activities, which began May 1, is a campaign entitled "Don't ask me for a picture," aimed at eliminating the practice of submitting a photograph with a job application. This campaign kicked off on May 8 at the United Nations Information Center in Panama City. The center, located at the tip of Panama's banking district, attracted a number of activists, who vowed to spread the message "Don't ask me for a picture" to all business establishments. The meeting was chaired by the secretary in-charge of the Information Center.

Attorney Barrow opened the campaign meeting with an explanation of the committee's month long program. He compared common business practices in Panama to similar activities in other countries in the Americas, emphasizing that the practices here are discriminatory and should be stopped. Barrow made reference to Article 19 of Panama's Constitution, wherein the principles of equality are emphasized, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite this, he said, many businesses in Panama request that a photograph be submitted along with a job application prior to an interview. This practice is openly stated in most job advertising.

Barrow also noted the HSBC bank as an outstanding example of a large and successful company that does not request a photograph with a job application. It was mentioned that the employees of this bank, drawn from Panama's varied ethnic cultures are of the highest caliber.

also in this section Business & Economy Briefs
©2001 The Panama News