Thirteen civil society organizations have called for the resignation of the Minister of Social Development, Beatriz Carles de Arango, citing serious failures in the ministry's management and oversight of centers serving vulnerable populations. In a letter dated March 18, 2026, the organizations questioned the performance of the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) and stated that the current institutional leadership does not guarantee an adequate response to complaints of mistreatment, neglect, and operational deficiencies in centers under its responsibility. The statement is based on findings documented by the Office of the Ombudsman, which reported human rights violations in a care center for the elderly in September 2025. According to that report, Mides omitted timely inspections and did not execute proper procedures, despite repeated complaints about mistreatment, failures in medication administration, problems with food, and deficient infrastructure conditions. The organizations also cited recent complaints about the Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) in Tocumen, which serves children, adolescents, and youth at social risk. Last month, in February, during a visit to this shelter by Deputy Alexandra Brenes, president of the Commission on Women, Children, Youth, and Family of the National Assembly. For this reason, they demand her ouster and suggest that an external, independent, and comprehensive evaluation of Mides be carried out, with public results and verifiable deadlines for compliance. “We request the resignation of the current Minister of Social Development, Beatriz Carles de Arango, considering that her permanence in office does not contribute to restoring public trust nor guarantees the technical, diligent, and responsible leadership that an institution of this nature requires,” the groups state in their communiqué. Who are they? The organizations supporting the request are the Alliance of Women of Panama, Center for Family Studies, Coalition for EIS, Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women's Rights, National Coordinator of Panamanian Black Organizations, Épica Foundation, Women's Encounter Space, Claresas Foundation, Foundation for Gender Equity, Feminist Hack, Isadora Duncan - Panama, Retirees and Pensioners for Panama, and the National Union of Women of Panama. Citation in the Assembly The full National Assembly approved summoning Minister Carles to answer a questionnaire about the crisis surrounding the Tocumen Comprehensive Care Center and, in general, about the functioning of the system for the protection of children, adolescents, and youth under state supervision. The citation is scheduled for the next April 1. President José Raúl Mulino appointed Lilibeth Cárdenas in her place. The civil society organizations' letter adds another front of conflict: tensions between Mides and the National Secretariat for Policies and Development for Afro-Panamanians, which, in the signatories' opinion, evidences problems in institutional coordination. The organizations say that these facts reflect structural failures in the social protection system and state oversight of shelters, a problem that has persisted despite changes in authorities in recent years. In this context, the signatories conclude that Carles Arango's permanence in office does not help regain public trust or ensure a technical and responsible management. On March 3 of last year, Ana Fábrega resigned from the direction of the National Secretariat of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (Senniaf). She detected irregularities at the site that include deterioration of facilities, lack of trained personnel, coexistence between minors and adults, as well as possible cases of mistreatment and abuse. Brenes presented a complaint before the Public Ministry. You may be interested: Deputy takes to the Prosecutor's Office a criminal complaint for alleged sexual and psychological aggression in a Tocumen shelter. Days later, the adults were transferred to another center.
