Judicial Branch prepares registry of those convicted of violence against women in Panama

Law 82 of 2013 establishes the obligation to maintain a computerized registry with information on convictions for violence against women in Panama. CUARTOSCURO.COM The Judicial Branch of Panama is working on the implementation of a statistical registry of offenders convicted of violence against women, a tool whose creation is contemplated in Law 82 of 2013. Nearly 13 years after that legislation was approved, the platform remains in a phase of review and adjustments, according to the institution. The initiative is coordinated by Ariadne Maribel García Angulo, a judge of the Second Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice and coordinator of the Access to Justice and Gender Unit. The Directorate of Modernization of the Judicial Branch will be responsible for administering the computer system. The project responds to Article 33 of Law 82, which orders the maintenance of a computerized registry based on convictions for acts of violence against women. The provision requires collecting information on victims and offenders, the characteristics of the cases, the measures adopted, and the sanctions imposed. Among the data that must be recorded are the age, marital status, and occupation of the individuals involved, as well as the relationship between the victim and the convicted person. The legislation also provides that the courts submit the corresponding information annually to feed this tool. Judge Ariadne Maribel García Angulo, of the Second Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, leads the initiative to develop the judicial statistical registry. Taken from the OJ The current announcement does not constitute the first known progress. In January 2026, the Judicial Branch reported on a meeting to review the development of the platform. On that occasion, García Angulo proposed incorporating information on the fulfillment of sentences, compensation to victims, and the duration of proceedings. The possibility of later including information on offenders processed in the adolescent criminal jurisdiction was also mentioned. At that time, the institution noted that the system had to be submitted for approval by the Plenary of the Supreme Court, with a view to allowing public consultation. However, the most recent communication does not establish a date for its implementation, nor does it specify how many sentences will initially be incorporated. It also does not detail the scope of citizen consultations or the conditions for accessing the personal information contained in the registry. Law 82 also contemplates other institutional obligations. The Public Prosecutor's Office must consult the offender registry when evaluating protective measures, in order to assess the risk faced by a victim. The regulation also assigns the National Police responsibilities related to registries and statistics on violence against women. The courts must provide information on the sanctions imposed, the characteristics of the cases, and the measures adopted in response to violence against women. (Illustrative image Infobae) Panama also has specific legislation for the sex offender registry, distinct from the tool being developed by the Judicial Branch. Law 244 of 2021 created that system, while Law 501 of November 24, 2025 authorized its public consultation. The sex offender registry corresponds to the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) and includes information on persons convicted by final judgment for crimes against sexual freedom and integrity, trafficking of minors, and human trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation. Although the opening to the public was approved in 2025, its implementation was still going through a technical stage in September 2026. The National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG) reported at that time that the platform was already functioning internally, but the DIJ continued to incorporate and validate the records. The administrator of the AIG, Adolfo Fábrega, has explained that citizen consultation would be enabled through Panamá Conecta. He also announced the possibility of issuing non-sex-offender certificates, which could be requested by employers, and estimated that the service would be available before the end of 2026. Panama is also advancing the implementation of a sex offender registry, created through legislation distinct from that which underpins the Judicial Branch's initiative. (Illustrative image Infobae) Thus, Panama is developing two different tools to document records of violence. One responds to the legislation protecting women and remains under judicial review; the other, focused on sexual crimes, already has an internal platform and awaits completing the procedures to open its public consultation.