Global UGRAD in Parliament: Edison Broce

Global UGRAD alumnus, Edison Broce, currently serves as the youngest Member of Parliament – Diputado Suplente – of the Panama National Assembly. He is the first “Son of Democracy” (born in 1990) to be elected in a public office in the history of Panama.

Soon after being elected in the general elections, he was unanimously elected President of the Diputados Suplentes Members of Parliament at 23 years old. His priorities as a politician are education, youth empowerment, environmental protection, and gender equality.

At the National Assembly, Edison has introduced bills such as The Youth Bill, which seeks to create the National Youth Institute and a legal framework for this segment of society; the Recycling Bill that will enable the public sector to start this practice (recently approved by the parliament); and several other proposed initiatives. He was also a key player in passing the legislation that created the Ministry of Environment in Panama.

Edison is a member of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB). Within this network, he has participated in parliamentary duties in New York, Burma, Berlin, Brazil, Nepal, Thailand, and the U.K. Additionally, he has given talks nationally and internationally (e.g. University of Oxford; The American University in Cairo (AUC)).

Edison possesses a bachelor degree in Law and a master in Procedural Law, both from USMA University in Panama, and a master in Public Policy at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.