Markelda Montenegro de Herrera (born 1957) is a Panamanian social scientist working on human rights and gender inequality,[1] and has served as Minister for Women.
[3][4] Montenegro's research has focused on human rights and gender inequality, including projects such as "Keys to success for quality education, gender inequality in access to elected office" and "Factors involved in femicide in Panama, in indigenous women Ngäbe- Bugle and Afro-descendants ".
She has taught at the University of Panama on topics involving law, gender and human rights, and has worked in other areas such as the country's community library program, the promotion of citizen participation, and gender training.
[1] Montenegro was the first director general of the Panamanian Instituto Nacional de la Mujer (National Institute for Women), elected in 2009.
[5] In 2014 the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) declared her to be an "Outstanding Woman" in recognition of her work for the women's rights in the region.