@CIDH @PauloAbrao @OACNUDH @Albrunori pronto dará inició a la actividad académica con la @UNPColombia que busca iniciar el proceso de elaboración del Anteproyecto de Ley tendiente a crear el Sistema Integral de Protección para defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos en Panamá pic.twitter.com/4USKNQRFvY
— Víctor Atencio G. (@relinterddp) February 15, 2018
Association
On 16th February 2018, the Ombudsman announced the draft of a new law to create a National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders in the country. The process of drafting the bill will include a consultation process involving local civil society, academia and other relevant stakeholders before the law is presented to the National Assembly for consideration.
Tranquezón por protesta comunitaria - Moradores de Kuna Nega cerraron la autopista Panamá - Colón, a altura de Mocambo, por falta del servicio de agua. Los afectados aducen que están cansados de vivir como "gorgojos" y acusan a los funcionarios del In... https://t.co/nO5BQlQA2M
— Gonzalez Julio (@JGonzalez_PTY) February 15, 2018
Peaceful Assembly
On 12th February 2018, members from the union - Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Construcción y Similares - started a series of protests against the mining company Minera Panama for what they consider to be unjustified dismissals. Both the company and the workers' union accused each other of excessive violence, and the mining company called on the state security forces to monitor the protest. No injuries were reported and the alleged attacks consisted of damage to work-related materials. On 18th February, both sides announced that they had reached an agreement and called for an end to the protest.
In a separate incident, a protest of the Kuna indigenous community reportedly took place at the end of January 2018. The demonstrators demanded that the authorities find a solution to the lack of potable water in their communities. They blocked the main road that connects the two main cities of the country (Panama City and Colon). According to news reports, police were present to talk with the demonstrators and persuade them to remove the blockade.
Tribunal Electoral de Panamá actuará contra violaciones a veda electoral en redes sociales durante campaña https://t.co/FPrEpaO1hO pic.twitter.com/sPUNRoPMEl
— W Radio Panamá (@WRadio913) January 17, 2018
Expression
Different sectors in the country have expressed concern over a decision by the Supreme Electoral Court to create a Division of Digital Media that will be responsible for monitoring social networks to identify violations of the electoral code ahead of the presidential elections in 2019.
Laurentino Cortizo, a presidential candidate from the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party, was notified by the Supreme Electoral Court that an investigation is underway into a statement he had made criticising current President Juan Carlos Varela during an event on 3rd January. Cortizo responded with concern that the Court cannot become a “censorship office”.