Femicides in Panama increase 20% in 2022

Cases of women victims of femicide increased by 20% and those of violent death 100% during the first quarter of this year in Panamacompared to the same period in 2021.

Between January and March last 6 women were victims of femicide, one more than in the same period of 2021, while 8 suffered violent deaths, compared to 4 the previous year, according to statistics from the Public Ministry (MP, Prosecutor’s Office).

Panama’s Law 82 defines feminicide as “causing the death of a woman based on belonging to the female sex, due to discrimination or any other form of violence”.

“Violent death refers to all the homicides of persons of the female sex that were not considered as femicides.according to the Prosecutor’s assessment of the case and the application of Law 82″, the MP points out in his report, without further clarification.

The victims of femicide were between 10 and 14 years old (2); between 40 and 44 years old (2), between 25 and 29 years old (1), and between 70 and 74 years old (1). 50% (3) of these cases were recorded in the Caribbean province of Colón, one of the most violent in the country and plagued by gangs.

83% (5) of the femicides were perpetrated with a knife and in one case it was not possible to specify what the victim was killed with.

“The undetermined figures refer to bodies that at the time could not determine the type of weapon used due to their state of decomposition or degree of calcination. They are also causes that remain under investigation, ”said the MP.

50% (4) of the cases of violent death of women occurred in the province of Panama, which includes the capital. 62% (5) were perpetrated with a firearm and 25% (2) with a blunt object. In only one case was a knife used, according to official statistics.

In 2021, femicides fell by 29% in Panama, when 22 cases were registered compared to 31 in 2020, but violent deaths rose by 47%, adding 22 compared to 15 the previous year, according to statistics from the Prosecutor’s Office. (I)