SPT evaluation on torture in Panamanian prisons

Recently the UN delivered a report prepared by the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT ), the report will not be made public, unless the Government decides otherwise.

Following a visit to Panama in August last year, the UN established the report with the objective of evaluating the treatment received by incarcerated people, with an aim of protecting against torture.

While the document containing the assessments of the SPT is not public domain, unless the Panamanian Government decides otherwise, Countries such as Mexico have published the observations of the international organization in previous years. Audrey Olivier Muralt, director of Latin America of the Association for the Prevention of Torture, explained publishing the observations together with the State’s responses is "a good practice".

The evaluation includes findings from a group of experts from the UN that visited Panama and visited various prisons, police stations and detention centers for adolescents and migrants. The delegation then held meetings with representatives of all the branches of the State, as well as with civil society organizations. During their visits to the detentions areas, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with prison and police personnel, as well as with prisoners and their relatives in a confidential setting.

Prior to the SPT’s visit, the Committee against Torture, located in Geneva, evaluated the degree of compliance of the Panamanian State with the International Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment. This evaluation showed, among other things, that in Panama there is overcrowding in prisons and arbitrary detentions.