Experience:
United Nations
- Expert commissioner to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2021-2024
- Vice president of the Working Group for Women and Girls with disabilities, 2021-2024
Best Buddies Panama – President, 2015 – present
Tribu DDB – President, 2010 – 2016
Voces Vitales Panamá – Member of the Advisory Board, 2007 – 2011
Aid For Aids New York – Member of the Board of Directors, 2006 – 2009
Special Olympics – Member of the International Board of Directors, 2006 – 2015
UNICEF Latin America and The Caribbean – Special Ambassador for Children with Disabilities, 2004-2009
Government of The Republic of Panama – First Lady of Panama, September 2004 – July 2009
Educational Background:
Florida State University / Nova University – Bachelor’s in Marketing and Administration
The Handmaids of The Sacred Heart of Jesus College (LAS ESCLAVAS) – High school in Science and Letters
Achievements:
Founder and President of Best Buddies Panama. 2015.
Keynote Speaker for TEDxPanamaCity ‘Inclusion Architects’ – Panama, Republic of Panama, October 2011.
Special Envoy of Good Will for Human Rights and the Dignity of persons with disabilities and their families of UNICEF, designated by the Organization of American States (OAS) for the XXXIX Meeting of the Central American Council of Human Rights Procurators – Panama, Republic of Panama, September 2009.
UNICEF special envoy for Human Rights and the Dignity of Persons for the V International Forum of Children with Special Needs. Achievement of Independent living for Persons with Disabilities – Doha, Qatar, April 2009.
Promotion of the establishment of the Certificate of Disability in conjunction with the Ministry of Health of Panama. Seminar-Workshop “The Preparation of the Regulations for the Certification of Disability”, with the technical assistance of the National Rehabilitation Service of Argentina, March 2009.
UNICEF Special Envoy for Human Rights and the Dignity of Persons with Disabilities for the Global Forum on Inclusion “Advances and Achievements of Panama in Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in national affairs” – Ottawa, Canada, November 2008.
Keynote Speaker at the Autism Talk Conference – Mexico, September 2008.
Speaker as First Lady of the Republic of Panama and as UNICEF Special Envoy for Human Rights and the Dignity of Persons with Disabilities for the VIII Meeting of Central America and the Dominican Republic First Ladies “XXI Century, Route towards True Educational Inclusion” – Panama, Republic of Panama, July 2008.
Support and promotion for the development of the National Accessibility Regulations in Urban Planning and Architecture. Designed for Engineers, Architects and related. National Secretariat of Disability of Panama (SENADIS), July 2008.
UN Special Envoy for Human Rights and the Dignity of Persons with Disabilities for the III International Forum of Children with Special Needs “Building Communities of Acceptance and Inclusion throughout the World” – Doha, Qatar, April 2008.
Recognition for her work as an advocate for human rights and the dignity of people with disabilities and their families. United Nations, Executive Board of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) – New York, United States of America, January 2008.
Promotion and management for the creation of the Technical Secretariat for the Follow-up of the Program of Action of the Decade of Persons with Disabilities of the Organization of American States (OAS), including its installation in the Republic of Panama and the attainment of financial resources, technical and technological for its operation, January 2008.
Speaker at the LXVII PAHO Directing Council, where she promoted the enactment of the resolution “Disability: prevention and rehabilitation in the context of the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and other related rights” – Washington D.C., United States, September 2007.
Promotion and participation in the creation of Panama’s National Disability Secretariat (SENADIS), today’s National Disability Policy coordinating institution of the Republic of Panama, June 2007.
Chairperson of the Inter-American Conference on Disability of the Organization of American States (OAS), within the framework of the OAS Inter-American Summit in Panama – Republic of Panama, June 2007.
Signing on behalf of the Republic of Panama of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the Headquarters of the United Nations Organization – New York, United States of America, March 2007.
Creation and Implementation of the “Dignified Schools” Program – Republic of Panama, 2007.
Creation of the Network of Integral Care Centers (REINTEGRA) at national level, with a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation and care by transdisciplinary teams. The concept of integral care is introduced, and the rehabilitation services are decentralized – Republic of Panama, 2007.
Promotion and participation in the installation of the Inter-American Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities in the Republic of Panama, February 2007.
Promotion for the creation of the Technical Aid Program (FODIS) of SENADIS – Republic of Panama, 2007.
Boost for the creation of the Non-Refundable Economic Subsidy Program for People with Disabilities and their Families of SENADIS – Republic of Panama, 2007.
Honorary President of the XIV World Congress of International Inclusion “Building an Inclusive Future: A Challenge for Globalization” – Acapulco, Mexico, November 2006.
Boost for the creation of Vital Voices Chapter of Panama as a member of “Vital Voices Global Partnership”, based in Washington, DC, founded on the initiative of Hillary Clinton and Madelaine Albright, 2006.
Creation of a Sports School of Social Integration and Inclusion in Panama through the Real Madrid Foundation in the Republic of Panama, January 2006.
Implementation of the Program of Inclusive Education in Diversity within the Panamanian Educational System – Republic of Panama, March 2005.
Participation and promotion of the proposed Equal Opportunities Law enacted in 1999 – Republic of Panama.
Creation of Inclusion Panama, National Family Network, 1994.
Certifications and Courses:
V Meeting of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America “Stopping the feminization of the Epidemic: Actions for the prevention and health of women”, in the framework of the XVII International Conference on HIV/AIDS – Mexico City, Mexico, August 2008.
Participation in the Seminar “Afro-descendant Populations in Latin America”, representing the Republic of Panama. Iberoamerican General Secretariat (SEGIB), March 2008.
II International Forum of Children with Special Needs – Doha, Qatar, April 2007.
XIII Conference First Ladies, Wives and Representatives of Heads of State and Government of the Americas. “Women and Social Development as thematic axis” – Asuncion, Paraguay,
September 2005.
2005 Special Olympics Global Athlete Congress. Panamá, República de Panamá, June 2005.
Publications in the Field of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, Without Labels – Autobiography, August 2019.
Publication: about Cannes Festival and Special Olympics. “Fair and square competition: Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos”, July 2011 – La Prensa newspaper, Opinion.
Publication: Women’s Symposium – Panama 2011. Available: viviantorrijos.com/blog.
Lived Experience Related to Persons with Disabilities:
Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos is a proud mother of 3: Daniella, Martin, and Nicolas. Daniella, her eldest daughter, was born with sequelae of prematurity and slow development, and gave a real turn to Vivian’s life. This experience made her commit to improve the circumstances that children with disabilities like her daughter and their families have to face every day. This was reflected in how the approach and priorities related to the rights of persons with disabilities changed in Panama during her work as First Lady, having an inclusive turn in the country’s public institutions, public policies, and social programs. If elected, Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos intend to ensure the cause of all the families represented in her: the promotion of inclusion of persons with disabilities and their rights, is granted due attention in the Committee’s agenda.