Panama’s Government Restructuring Threatens Women’s Rights Under the Guise of Efficiency

In a move that raises serious concerns about the commitment to women’s rights in Panama—and by extension, signals troubling trends for governments disregarding dedicated protections—the administration of President José Raúl Mulino has announced plans to eliminate the Ministry of Women. This department was established only recently, under President Laurentino Cortizo in 2023, replacing the previous National Institute of Women. The official justification? To reorganize and slim down government bureaucracy for cost savings. Yet, President Mulino's characterization of the Ministry as "created on the fly" and producing merely "good bureaucracy" reflects an alarming underestimation of an institution designed to safeguard fundamental...