Panama launches rapid response team amid surge in domestic violence reports

Panama is confronting a severe domestic violence crisis, with a woman reporting abuse every two hours. This year alone, over 9,000 national reports have been filed, averaging 51 cases daily, according to the Ministry of Women.

In response, the state has established the Inter-institutional Immediate Response Team (ERII). This initiative pools resources from four government ministries and institutions to ensure swifter, more integrated, and sustained assistance for women facing violence. The team's primary goal is to provide timely protection and strengthen the overall response to these cases.

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There is a social component issue, and that is always a driver for addictive activities, and indeed, domestic violence constitutes the crime with the highest incidence in the Republic of Panama.

Luis Carlos Gómez, the nation's prosecutor, highlighted the social factors contributing to domestic violence, calling it the most prevalent crime in Panama. First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino urged victims to report incidents, assuring them that the newly formed inter-institutional team is ready to help and that they will not face the situation alone.

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Report it, that an inter-institutional team has been organized precisely to help them, do it, they will not be alone.

Minister of Women Niurka Palacios detailed the rapid response protocol: National Police agents must arrive at a scene within 15 minutes of a domestic violence alert. She cited a recent rescue in Chiriquí province where a woman was saved after her partner fired shots during an assault. Palacios confirmed that all units and zone chiefs are trained to meet this critical response time, aiming to apprehend the aggressor and aid the victim efficiently.

The ERII aims to enhance inter-institutional coordination, bolster prevention efforts, improve victim protection, and facilitate access to justice through a more streamlined response. Official figures indicate that 13 women have been victims of femicide so far this year, underscoring gender-based violence as a major concern for security and human rights in the country.

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All units and zone chiefs were here, and the priority is that they have 15 minutes between receiving the alert through 104 or 182 to arrive at the location, arrest the aggressor, and assist the victim.