Violation of human rights persist in Darien jungle

After the visit of officials from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) to the reception centers for refugees who arrive in the province of Darién after crossing the jungle, the Center for Justice and International Law (Cejil) warned that violation of the human rights of migrants persists.

A delegation from the Inter-American Court traveled last Thursday, together with the Ombudsman’s Office of Panama, to the migrant reception stations of Bajo Chiquito, Lajas Blancas, and San Vicente, to corroborate compliance with standards of respect for human rights to the migrants.

The president of the Inter-American Court, Ricardo Pérez Manrique, said that “we have seen progress and a willingness to resolve this… Our task will be to measure the volume of these advances in relation to what was the original purpose of the Court when it decreed the measures,” he added.

In June 2020, the Inter-American Court, based in San José, Costa Rica, ordered Panama to immediately and effectively ensure access to essential health services to all migrants, without discrimination, but according to Cejil, irregular actions still persist, such as the detention of people who arrive in the town of Bajo Chiquito, being a systematic practice. In addition, cases of sexual violence have been documented, including girls.

In addition, it indicates that the State of Panama has not presented protocols for the attention of these cases.

Sexual  violence
According to Cejil, in 2021 around 288 cases of sexual violence were identified.

At the same time, it warns of the absence of protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19  and that migrants are exposed to situations that put their health at risk.

However, the report recognizes that the Panamanian State has adopted measures to improve the conditions of the 134,000 people who transited through Darién in 2021.

The visit of the Inter-American Court takes place in compliance with the measures to protect migrants imposed on Panama by the Vélez Loor case, in which the Panamanian State was condemned for the poor conditions of detention to which the Ecuadorian was subjected in 2002.

Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes said on her Twitter account that the country is making a great effort to offer due attention to migrants. She said that Panama shares the need to maintain the humanitarian focus and co-responsibility of all countries.