The Archbishop warned that one in three children lives in poverty in Panama and called for urgent action against inequality. “A country that does not take care of its children is silently giving up its own tomorrow,” he said, while pointing out that these practices “steal the bread from the poor and the future of the country.” Call To All Sectors Finally, he called for joint action from: State bodies, Private sector, Civil society, Universities, Local governments, Social organizations and faith communities. “Everyone must get involved, no one can be left out,” he concluded. During his message, Ulloa warned that more than 482,000 children in Panama live in poverty, citing data from the World Bank, UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES). “One in three Panamanian children lives in poverty and one in six in extreme poverty,” he said. Ulloa insisted that factors such as origin or geography cannot be allowed to define the future of children. “These are not cold figures, they are lives that cry out for justice and call on us not to remain indifferent,” he said. It Points to Corruption as the Cause The religious leader also linked the problem to corruption and impunity. The archbishop stressed that early childhood, from 0 to 6 years old, is crucial for integral development, so growing up in these conditions perpetuates inequality.
