The children's rights activist, Lucy Córdoba, warned this week that the legislative initiative seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility for homicide is inappropriate. Weeks ago, Deputy José Pérez Barboni presented a bill that aims to reform the juvenile criminal responsibility system in Panama. According to the activist, international conventions are at stake, and in her opinion, the proposal shows a lack of understanding by the National Assembly. The proposal has received the support of the National Police Director, Jaime Fernández, who has stated that the involvement of minors has put authorities on alert. Fernández explained that criminal groups are recruiting minors to commit crimes, gain territory, and intimidate other groups. Córdoba recalled that the areas where juvenile offenders come from are highly vulnerable. "The solution is not to increase laws, nor to give money to these minors," she stated. The deputy advocates for lowering the age of criminal responsibility and toughening penalties for minors involved in serious crimes such as homicide, drug trafficking, gang activity, weapons possession, and rape. "It's not about saying: I'm going to pass a law, we're going to increase laws. To create a law, you need to conduct a micro and macro approach, not a punitive reaction," he emphasized. Statistics from the Public Ministry's Statistics Center indicate that from January to November 2025, 4,160 complaints against adolescents were reported.
Legislative Initiative to Lower Juvenile Criminal Age in Panama
A debate in Panama over a bill to lower the criminal age for homicide. An activist and police chief offer contrasting solutions, with one advocating for punitive measures and the other for social programs to address juvenile delinquency.
