Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino inaugurated the new La Esmeralda Women’s Rehabilitation Center, known as CEFERE, located in Las Garzas, Panama province. This center, created by the Ministry of Government as part of the official plan to reorganize the female prison system, is designed for 520 inmates. It combines areas for training, medical care, and family visits in one space. The center also features recreation areas and spaces for spending time with children, something that did not exist comprehensively in the previous prison. With the opening of La Esmeralda, the current CEFERE Cecilia Orillac de Chiari will cease to operate as a regular prison. According to the government, the facility complies with United Nations regulations and international human rights standards, aiming to promote rehabilitation and social reintegration. The complex includes educational workshops, a school, a clinic, an auditorium, and sports facilities. The project was completed in 18 months with an investment of $22.4 million.
