Protection for women and children in Panama remains insufficient, according to the Public Defender's annual Human Rights 2025 report, presented this Thursday by the head of the body, Eduardo Leblanc, who called for better education to curb the various forms of violence affecting these populations. "Femicides, physical and sexual violence, late attention and the lack of agile mechanisms, as well as digital violence, continue to put lives at risk," Leblanc stated when presenting the report. "Cases of gender-based violence, femicides, sexual abuse, school bullying and violence in family and community environments reveal that prevention, detection and timely care mechanisms remain fragmented and, in many cases, late," the Defender argues in the 28-page document. "The report confirms that there are still deep challenges, but it also shows that there are efforts that can reduce these gaps if they are sustained over time," Leblanc noted. "Panama has normative advances, but the reality shows that we are still not sufficiently protecting women. As for childhood, the Panamanian Defender found 'persistent challenges' in terms of protection, access to basic services and safe environments, given the cases of school bullying, lack of adequate infrastructure and limitations in the protection systems for girls, boys and adolescents at risk." "It is necessary to consolidate protection mechanisms through clear protocols, agile care routes, effective inter-institutional coordination and specific budgets," expressed the Defender. Gaps in access to public services and poor health In its annual report, the human rights body also emphasized the 'persistent and deep gaps' in access to essential services such as water, health, transportation, education and social security, which more severely affect people in rural, coastal and indigenous areas and those living in poverty and exclusion. In the health sector, it stated that institutional fragmentation continues to affect the population, despite recent efforts to improve drug supply and primary care care. As of November 30 of last year, 17 women had been victims of femicide in Panama, according to statistics from the Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office). This December, two more were murdered by their partners, who then committed suicide, according to local press reports, which stated that a total of nine children were left orphaned by these two cases. Regarding human rights education, it states that 'although it has made progress, it has not yet been consolidated as an effective cross-cutting axis in the educational system or in the training of public servants, which limits cultural transformation'.
Protection for Women and Children in Panama Remains Insufficient
Panama's Public Defender presented a report stating that protection for women and children from violence remains insufficient. It highlights a rise in femicides, school bullying, and other forms of violence, as well as problems with access to basic services and healthcare.
