| | |
|
| |
|
|
Panama Panama: Reject Harsh Laws on Youth Offenders Measures Would Violate Rights Accord, So Panama Threatens to Withdraw From Treaty Panama should withdraw a proposal that would authorize lengthy prison terms and potentially the death penalty for children under 18. July 23, 2004 Press Release Printer friendly version Letter to President Moscoso Human Rights Watch writes to Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso to express concern at proposed legislation that would authorize sentences of life imprisonment and the death penalty for minors. July 22, 2004 Letter Printer friendly version Panama: Prosecution of Past Abuses Needed Human Rights Watch today welcomed the release of a Panamanian Truth Commission report describing killings and "disappearances" committed under past military regimes. In a letter to President Mireya Moscoso of Panama, Human Rights Watch urged her to ensure that the perpetrators of the crimes documented by the commission are brought to justice. April 26, 2002 Press Release Printer friendly version Panama: Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 From the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers Article 305 of the 1978 Constitution states that "All Panamanians are required to take arms to defend national independence and territorial integrity of the state." However, the armed forces were dissolved in 1994 and conscription does not exist. National legislation prohibits the recruitment of persons less than 18 years old, either compulsorily or voluntarily. June 12, 2001 Multi Country Report Peru: Montesinos Asylum Claim Panama Should Prosecute Former Peruvian Spymaster for Torture Human Rights Watch wrote to Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, urging her to deny political asylum to Vladimiro Montesinos, the former Peruvian spy chief. September 26, 2000 Press Release Printer friendly version Panama: Landmine Monitor Report 2000 Panama signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, and deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN on 7 October 1998. The ratification legislation literally adopts the treaty but cannot be considered to be full implementation legislation with penalties for violations. Panama has not yet submitted its Article 7 transparency report, due by 27 September 1999, but officials say they are preparing the report.58 Panama voted in favor of the pro-Mine Ban Treaty UN General Assembly Resolution 54/54 B in December 1999, as it did on previous resolutions in 1997 and 1998. It has also supported the pro-ban resolutions of the Organization of American States (OAS). It was one of nine nations to sign the "Declaration of San José" in Costa Rica on 5 April 2000, which has an article promoting the Mine Ban Treaty. August 1, 2000 Multi Country Report Panama Urged to Prosecute Haitian Coup Leaders "Pinochet Precedent" Cited Human Rights Watch called on the government of Panama to prosecute or extradite Generals Raoul Cedrás and Philippe Biamby for atrocities committed during their 1991-1994 military rule in Haiti. November 11, 1999 Press Release Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch/Americas Applauds Resolution on Gorriti Case Human Rights Watch/Americas applauded theagreement reached between the government of Panama and the daily newspaper La Prensa, whereby journalist Gustavo Gorriti can continue to work in a senior position at the newspaper instead of being deported to his native Peru, as a victory for freedom of expression in the hemisphere. October 15, 1997 Press Release Printer friendly version Human Rights in Post-Invasion Panama Justice Delayed is Justice Denied The ouster of General Manuel Noriega in December 1989 and the installation of the democratically-elected coalition government of President Guillermo Endara brought high hopes in Panama that a long period of disrespect for law and the civil rights of the Panamanian people had come to an end. More than a year later, those hopes have been displaced by widespread belief that the government has performed miserably in addressing the country's most pressing human rights problems, and is incapable of administering its judicial system either fairly or efficiently. Indeed, despite continuing material hardship and the absence of any significant improvement in the economic fortunes of most Panamanians, opinion polls attribute the government's precipitous fall in popularity over the past year most of all to the public's perception that its government has failed to provide one commodity as essential as any other: justice. HRW Index No.: B304 April 7, 1991 Report
|
 
| |||||||||||||
|
Contribute to Human Rights Watch
Home | About Us | News Releases | Publications | About HRW | Info by Country | Global Issues | Campaigns | Free Mailing Lists | Community | Store | Film Festival | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | Press Contacts | Privacy Policy © Copyright 2006, Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA |
