The protection of women and children in Panama remains insufficient, as indicated by the Ombudsman's annual Human Rights Report for 2025, presented this Thursday by the head of the organization, Eduardo Leblanc, who called for more and better education to curb the various forms of violence affecting these populations. "Panama has regulatory advances, but the reality shows that we are still not sufficiently protecting women. Femicides, physical and sexual violence, delayed assistance and the lack of agile mechanisms, as well as digital violence, continue to put lives at risk," Leblanc declared. Regarding childhood, the Ombudsman found "persistent challenges" in protection, access to basic services, and safe environments, with cases of school bullying, inadequate infrastructure, and limitations in 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," the institution expressed. The report also emphasized deep gaps in access to water, health, transportation, education, and social security, which especially affect people in rural, coastal, and indigenous areas. In health, institutional fragmentation continues to impact the population, despite efforts to improve the supply of medicines and primary care. Regarding human rights education, it was indicated that although there are advances, it is not yet a consolidated cross-cutting axis in the educational system or in the training of public officials, which limits cultural changes. "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, delayed," the Ombudsman argues in the 28-page document. As of November 30 of last year, 17 women had been victims of femicide in Panama. This December, two more women were murdered by their partners, who then committed suicide, leaving nine children orphaned, according to local press reports. "The report confirms that there are still profound challenges, but it also demonstrates that there are efforts that can reduce these gaps if they are sustained over time," Leblanc noted.
