The Constitution of Panama prohibits all forms of discrimination, but various cultural, political and social restrictions undermine women’s ability to exercise their rights. Despite new laws and legal amendments that improve the situation of women, inequalities remain, particularly affecting housewives and women in rural communities.
Since the 1990s, the size of households in Panama has generally declined. During the same period, the percentage of households headed by women has increased, and is higher in urban areas than in rural regions.
The Family Code, adopted in 1995, abolished discriminatory clauses contained in the code of 1917 and now upholds the principle of equality for men and women within the family. However, scarce data makes it difficult to assess the actual situation.
The law authorises marriage from the age of 14 for both boys and girls if both have reached puberty, if the girl is pregnant or if the couple has already had a child. As a result, early marriage is widespread. A 2004 United Nations report estimated that 22 per cent of girls between 15 and 19 years of age were married, divorced or widowed.
Polygamy is not a common practice in Panama.
Little information is available about parental authority in Panama. The Constitution stipulates that men and women have equal position within the family, but social stereotypes persist.
There is no data to assess the level of discrimination in the area of inheritance.
Little information is available about the protection of women’s physical integrity in Panama, and the data available tends to show discrepancies. Violence against women, and especially domestic violence, remains a serious problem. In 1995, the government passed a law that criminalised domestic violence; any physical or psychological abuse committed to a family member is punishable by six months to one year imprisonment plus a fine. Jail sentences for domestic violence are uncommon, however, since offenders usually exercise the option of choosing therapy over prison. The Family Code stipulates that rape and spousal rape are crimes, but convictions are rare.
Female genital mutilation appears to be carried out by certain indigenous groups in the Darien region, but the available data are insufficient to assess the extent of the practice.
There is no evidence to suggest that Panama is a country of concern in relation to missing women.
Theoretically, women in Panama can pursue financial independence, but discrimination persists. Women have limited access to land and less than one-third of land title deeds are assigned to women. Legally, women have the same rights as men regarding access to property other than land.
Access to bank loans is more difficult for women than for men. Women who wish to apply for financing generally turn to co-operatives, some of which specifically target women.
Women in Panama face no legal restrictions on their civil liberties. They have freedom of movement, including the right to jointly decide on the location of the family home as stipulated in the Family Code, and freedom of dress.
CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) (1997), Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Panama, Second and Third Periodic Reports of States Parties, CEDAW/C/PAN/2-3, CEDAW, New York, NY.
CRC (Committee on the Rights of the Child) (2004), Considerations of Reports Submitted by State Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention, CRC/C/15/Add.233, CRC, New York, NY.
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) (2004), Panama: Country Gender Profile, JICA, Tokyo.
UN (United Nations) (2004), World Fertility Report 2003, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, New York, NY.
US Department of State (2007), Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Panama, US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Washington, DC.
USAID (US Agency for International Development) (2004), Gender Assessment for USAID/Panama, USAID, Washington, DC.
