Republic of Panama
Head of state and government: Juan Carlos Varela (replaced Ricardo Martinelli in July)

Former President Manuel Noriega faced new trials relating to human rights violations during his presidency and the killing of a soldier in 1969. A Special National Commission on victims of enforced disappearance had yet to be established. The rights of Indigenous Peoples were threatened by hydroelectricity projects. Local NGOs were prevented by the authorities from following up complaints of harsh prison conditions.

Background

In July, Juan Carlos Varela was sworn in as President. In August, the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent noted that, despite the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation, patterns of racial discrimination prevailed and persons of African descent – around 10% of the population – continued to suffer from political, social and economic marginalization.

Impunity

In September the Supreme Court of Justice decided that Manuel Noriega, former de facto ruler of the country from 1983 to 1989, should face trial for his alleged role in the killing of a soldier in 1969. The decision came as Manuel Noriega was serving sentences related to the killing of two political opponents. He also faced new trials for enforced disappearances and killings during his presidency.

Despite previous pledges to search for people forcibly disappeared during the 1970s and 1980s, the government failed to make any progress. A Special National Commission to search for victims of enforced disappearance, which the government pledged to create in 2012, had still not been established by the end of the year.

Indigenous Peoples' rights

There were protests in February, April and May in the area of Barro Blanco, resulting in clashes between members of the Ngöbe-Buglé Indigenous community and the police. The Ngöbe-Buglé opposed the construction of a large hydroelectric dam on their lands, claiming that future flooding resulting from it would render them homeless. They also alleged that their right to be consulted over the project prior to construction commencing was not met.

In May the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples noted that although the comarca system of Indigenous Peoples' administrative zones offered some protection, more needed to be done to protect Indigenous Peoples' land rights. The Special Rapporteur recommended that Panama ensure consultation of Indigenous Peoples and their free and informed consent, prior to proposing large construction projects on or near their lands. He also recommended that Panama increase its efforts to improve Indigenous Peoples' access to health, education and economic development. With regard to the Barro Blanco dam, he recommended that flooding of the local areas be halted until agreement with the Ngöbe-Buglé community had been reached.

Prison conditions

In April, local human rights NGOs wrote to the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, raising concerns that they were being prevented by the authorities from accessing prisons, which was impeding their work in following up complaints of inhuman conditions in prisons.

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