Summary.
The bill establishes visual promotion through posters and awareness campaigns aimed at preventing sexual abuse of children and adolescents in public and private institutions in the Republic of Panama. It seeks to inform the public about identifying and reporting these offenses and to publicize resources, support services and care for victims. Its requirements would extend to entities serving the public, educational and health facilities, collective transport, airports, shopping centers, parks and sports facilities, other places accessible to minors, and information banners in audiovisual media. It defines prevention posters as educational and informational graphic materials and refers to sexual offenses defined in criminal law to delineate sexual abuse involving minors.
Covered institutions would display posters visibly and permanently. The posters would explain how to recognize abuse, provide instructions for reporting suspected cases, list emergency and assistance numbers, and affirm children’s and adolescents’ right to protection. They would include contact channels for the National Police (Policía Nacional), the Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social), the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families (Secretaria Nacional de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público). Poster design would follow guidelines issued by the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families, the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación), the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), and meet standards of clarity and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The bill calls for mass campaigns through social media, television, radio and internet platforms to explain the seriousness and consequences of the offense and encourage reporting. It also adds continuous prevention content to the curricula of public and private schools for students, parents, teachers and administrative staff. The Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families would produce and distribute materials, oversee their display and dissemination, and provide funding and other support to institutions involved in awareness, prevention and victim care programs.
Noncompliance by covered institutions would be subject to fines of 500 to 5,000 balboas, based on the severity and duration of the violation under implementing regulations. The National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, would establish a free, confidential reporting line for victims, relatives and witnesses. Fine proceeds would go to the Ministry of Health for therapeutic care programs at health centers. The Ministry of Social Development, the Judicial Branch (Órgano Judicial), the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families and the Ministry of Education would hold a national congress each November. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue regulations within no more than six months of promulgation; the responsible authorities would assess the measures every three years, and the law would take effect the day after promulgation.
The public bodies named in the bill would be involved alongside education, health, transport, media, commerce, and recreational and sports sectors in Panama.
What it proposes.
- Display of posters to prevent sexual abuse of children and adolescents.
- Public awareness campaigns and school prevention content.
- Reporting, therapeutic care, oversight and fines for noncompliance.
Who it would affect.
- Public institutions and private entities serving the public.
- Public and private educational and health facilities.
- Transport operators, audiovisual media and establishments or spaces accessible to minors.
- Authorities responsible for implementing, overseeing and assessing the measures.
Key points.
- Prevention requirements would cover public facing institutions and spaces, including educational and health facilities, transport, airports, shopping centers and audiovisual media.Arts. 1-2
- Covered institutions would display visible, permanent posters explaining how to identify and report abuse and access assistance lines.Arts. 4-5
- Poster design would follow the designated authorities’ guidelines and standards of clarity and accessibility.Art. 6
- Traditional and digital media campaigns and continuous school content would address students, families and school staff.Arts. 7-8
- Designated authorities would produce and distribute materials, oversee the measures and support prevention and care programs; institutional noncompliance would carry fines of 500 to 5,000 balboas.Arts. 9-10
- A free, confidential reporting line would be established, and fine proceeds would fund therapeutic care programs for victims.Arts. 11-12
- A national congress would be held each November; the Executive Branch would issue regulations within no more than six months, and the authorities would assess the measures every three years.Arts. 13-15