PANAMA CITY, Panama – Panama is confronting a systemic failure in its protection mechanisms for women after a series of femicides involving victims who had active restraining orders against their aggressors. The recent brutal murder of a young woman in Pocrí de Aguadulce, which followed a pattern of other recorded killings, has triggered national alarm and urgent calls from officials and advocates for a complete overhaul of the country’s response to gender-based violence.
The case in Pocrí de Aguadulce is the latest in a string of shocking crimes that have laid bare the fatal gaps in Panama’s legal and institutional frameworks designed to safeguard women. Experts analyzing the situation on the local program Radar expressed profound alarm at both the increasing frequency and the extreme violence of recent attacks, noting that existing protection orders are proving tragically insufficient.
Officials and Advocates Sound the Alarm on Systemic Failure
National Assembly Deputy and President of the Commission for Women, Alexandra Brenes, described the current situation as terrifying, specifically referencing cases that were recorded and shared publicly.
“Absolutely, for us, what we have been living is terrifying, more than anything because what happened on Sunday impacted us all, where we saw it was recorded, the mother runs out, the mother with a deep wound from seeing this, and then it happens again on Tuesday or Wednesday, if I’m not mistaken, again in the provinces, but this was also recorded where no one could help this girl and she truly dies. So it is something that is truly worrying and the truth is that the cases are increasing and we are still left asking ourselves: are we working and being reactive or when do we actually begin working on prevention?”
Brenes emphasized [Translated from Spanish].
Former Minister of Social Development, Markova Concepción, joined the call for immediate action.
“Definitely, the cases we are seeing, which are happening even in broad daylight, like the case on Sunday, must call us to action. I believe that processes of reflection and exchange are important to identify where the situations are occurring that do not allow these protection measures to be efficient and effective, and the only way to identify that is to not have femicides in this country,”
Concepción stated [Translated from Spanish].
Adding to the analysis, lawyer Ana Escobar from the Fundación Vida Mujer pointed to the high level of violence in recent attacks, suggesting a disturbing level of premeditation.
“Well, the truth is, we as a foundation, first of all, are totally alarmed by the rate of violence because these latest attacks have been extremely violent. We generally see this type of case daily, often at the foundation, but the recent ones have been with much boldness, with premeditation and with treachery, because they have truly been situations that were planned. The aggressor was already determined to commit an act, so this really catches our attention because there is a lack of values, we have to look at mental health, because all these factors are influencing and we also have to see within households what is happening because after domestic violence is reported, what will follow is a femicide if proper attention is not given,”
Escobar detailed [Translated from Spanish].
Scrutiny on Law 82 and the ‘Failure’ of Protection Orders
The national debate has zeroed in on the efficacy of Law 82 of 2013, a comprehensive piece of legislation that adopts prevention measures against violence and femicide. While the law itself is considered robust, its application is now widely seen as failing the very women it was designed to protect. The discussion highlights that protection orders, known locally as ‘boletas de protección’, are not enough to save lives.
Former Minister Concepción emphasized that violence against women is a systemic phenomenon and that Law 82 explicitly establishes shared responsibility across multiple sectors.
“On the other hand, I would like to propose the following regarding the issue of prevention and the measures established in Law 82. I believe that is a law that truly captures great advances in normative matters in the country for the protection of women’s rights and above all the cases of gender-based violence that many women in this country suffer and endure. One in three women in this country has been, is, or will be a victim of gender-based violence. […] And if the State, which according to Law 82 clearly states is responsible for articulating actions among all sectors and institutions, we need to see more permanent, systematic responses, because we are facing a phenomenon that is systemic and is also legitimized in all sectors of society,”
Concepción argued [Translated from Spanish].
She was categorical in her assessment of the core problem with the current measures.
“That is, the protection orders are not working. Because if they were working, we simply would not have cases like the ones we are seeing. […] The failures, unfortunately, the clearest evidence is that there is a death of a woman at the hands of her former partner. That is the clearest evidence that the system of protection measures that exists today is failing,”
she concluded [Translated from Spanish].
Providing a legal perspective, lawyer Ana Escobar detailed how victims often face a deficient judicial process. Referencing a specific case, she explained,
“And in that case, it had already been established… it had already been presented that there was harassment, there was blackmail involving the presentation of intimate photos of the victim with the aggressor. She received constant threats via WhatsApp. All that evidence was presented to the prosecutor’s office for the restraining order. […] But then the process fails along the way. That is, you didn’t finish with the first line, which was the aggressor,”
Escobar maintained [Translated from Spanish].
Budget Cuts and Institutional Challenges Compound the Crisis
Compounding the operational failures is a growing concern over resource allocation. A critical point of discussion has been the recent reduction in budget and the decision to dismantle or restructure key institutions. While the original text was cut short, the implication is that financial and institutional support for combating gender-based violence is facing significant challenges.
This reduction in resources threatens the very infrastructure needed to implement laws like Law 82 effectively. It impacts the capacity of social services, the judiciary, and law enforcement to provide the coordinated, sustained response that experts argue is essential for prevention and protection. Without adequate funding, training, and institutional commitment, even the most well-crafted legal frameworks are rendered impotent.
The conversation in Panama has moved beyond shock and grief into a critical examination of state responsibility. The repeated failure of protection orders in preventing femicides represents a profound breach of trust and a clear signal that a reactive approach is no longer tenable. As officials like Deputy Brenes and former Minister Concepción have asserted, the path forward must be paved with systemic, well-funded, and proactive prevention strategies that address the deeply rooted societal issues legitimizing violence against women.
For more information on Panama’s legal framework for protecting women, you can review the official text of Law 82 on the Official Gazette. Further context on regional efforts to combat gender-based violence is available from the United Nations Women.