Universal Periodic Review 50: UK Statement on Panama
UK Statement for Panama's Universal Periodic Review. Delivered at the 50th session of the UPR in Geneva.
Thank you, Mr Vice-President.
The United Kingdom welcomes the progress that Panama has made in protecting and promoting human rights, including through launching the Public Policy for Equal Opportunities for Women 2024–2034.
However, we remain concerned by the institutional downgrade of the Ministry of Women, the limited access to safe drinking water and sanitation in Indigenous communities, the lack of legal protections for LGBT+ persons, and the growing levels of gender-based violence.
We encourage Panama to take concrete steps to strengthen institutional mechanisms for gender equality, ensure protection for vulnerable populations and advance inclusive legal frameworks.
We recommend that Panama:
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Maintains an autonomous institutional mechanism for gender equality with a dedicated budget and oversight capacity, ensuring full implementation of the 2024–2034 gender policy.
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Ensures universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation in indigenous and rural areas by 2028.
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Adopts comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation by 2026 that explicitly protects LGBT+ persons and includes provisions for gender identity recognition and access to legal documentation.
Thank you.