Woman murdered in Panama restaurant amid rising femicide rates

A 41-year-old woman was murdered in a restaurant in David, Panama, on Monday, allegedly by her ex-partner. The attack, which occurred during a discussion, involved the use of a bladed weapon, resulting in fatal injuries to the victim's neck and head, according to local media reports.

The incident highlights a disturbing trend in Panama, where official statistics show a 125% increase in femicides by April of this year compared to the same period in 2025. There were nine femicides recorded by April, up from four in the previous year, along with a 117% rise in attempted femicides.

Witnesses reported that the victim and the attacker, identified by media as a 45-year-old man and her former partner, began arguing before the assault. The Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office) confirmed the apprehension of the suspect and the initiation of an investigation into the case.

Panama recorded 20 femicides in 2025, a decrease from the 23 reported the previous year. However, the overall violent death rate among women has seen a significant increase this year. In its annual Human Rights Report released in December, the Panamanian Ombudsman's Office described the protection of women and children as "insufficient," noting that mechanisms for prevention, detection, and timely response to gender-based violence, femicides, and abuse remain fragmented and often delayed.