United States Department of State

Panama United States Department of State

The principal human rights problems were harsh prison conditions marked by overcrowding, inadequate health care, and corrupt behavior by civilian custodians and members of the Panamanian National Police (PNP); judicial ineffectiveness, including a judiciary susceptible to corruption and outside influence; and widespread corruption, often practiced with impunity. Other human rights abuses reported included prolonged pretrial detention, violence against women and children, trafficking in persons, marginalization of indigenous people, societal discrimination based on HIV/AIDS status and sexual orientation, and child labor. The change in administration resulted in several dozen investigations of corruption charges levied against officials from the previous administration. Individuals facing the same charges received different restrictive measures, resulting in allegations of favoritism.