Shelter abuse scandal protests approach 3rd week

Demonstrations against sexual and psychological abuse of children and adolescents in “shelters” subsidized by the government continued through the week while the Panama Prosecutor’s Office told Efe News  Agency on Wednesday. Shortly after the Prosecutor’s Office undertook this comprehensive investigation, Attorney General Eduardo Ulloa, announced his resignation, without the reasons being known. A  National Assembly subcommittee presented a report more than two weeks ago that details that since 2015 dozens of minors have been abused in 14 shelters nationwide, where boys, girls, and boys in vulnerable situations are housed.

“It was very unfortunate to learn first-hand that reality is beyond fiction: the state of abandonment and revictimization is surprising. The minors are in subhuman conditions,” said alternate deputy Walkiria Chandler, a member of the subcommission.