The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has issued a statement in response to reports of possible abuse, mistreatment, and neglect towards children, children, and adolescents under state protection at the Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) in Tocumen. In its statement, the organization expressed its deep concern for the well-being and integrity of the affected children, children, and adolescents. The international body calls on competent institutions to urgently adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the right to care, safety, and the best interests of all children, children, and adolescents without parental care and under state protection measures in Panama. UNICEF also urges the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to act in this matter with speed, equity, justice, and in harmonious collaboration to restore and preserve the rights of childhood. Furthermore, the organization reiterates, based on evidence from multiple countries around the world, that shelters are not suitable environments for the comprehensive development and protection of childhood. For this reason, it is important for Panama to continue to advance in strengthening family-based alternative care measures. To achieve this, it is essential that sufficient resources be allocated to Senniaf to urgently expand the foster care program (SIC) nationwide and to ensure adequate funding and follow-up for all child protection measures, from prevention to care and family reunification, they indicate. The multilateral entity will continue to support Panama in the reform of the child protection system, which has advanced significantly in recent years but still requires resources to ensure safe, stable, and loving environments for every child in need of special protection.
