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Panama Violence Bill Languishing
A bill to fight violence in
Panama, although marked urgent,
remains at a standstill in
Friday´s second debate in the
National Assembly.
Legislative Government Committee
Chairman Raul Rodriguez pointed
out that many modifications have
been presented to President
Martin Torrijos’ proposal.
In an attempt to speed the
process, deputies declared
themselves in permanent session,
and the majority refused to
return to the first debate on
the document, as several
opposition legislators proposed.
The initiative, among other
aspects, aims to increase
sentences applied to minors, a
measure criticized by UNICEF and
human rights groups.
According to a survey, the
document is supported by 92.1
percent of the people and barely
6 percent reject it.
Torrijos presented the bill in
April in an attempt to confront
the wave of violence the country
is experiencing.
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