Panama


This country page describes, in brief, data that TJET has compiled on regime transitions, intrastate conflict episodes, and transitional justice mechanisms. For details on the data included on this page, view the FAQ.

For Panama, TJET has collected information on: four amnesties between 1987 and 1994; 31 domestic trials starting between 1983 and 2015; and two truth commissions mandated between 2001 and 2016.

Select any transitional justice mechanism in the table below to view a timeline in the figure.


Country Background

Democratic Transition

Based on well-known democracy data, TJET records one democratic transition starting in 1989.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.

Violent Conflict

Based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, TJET records one violent intrastate conflict episode in 1989, involving one armed opposition group fighting against the government.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions. Source: UCDP Dyadic Dataset version 23.1, https://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/index.html#dyadic.


Transitional Justice Data

As of 2020, Panama ranks 147th out of 174 on TJET’s legacy of violence index. For a full list of country rankings over time, view the index page, and for an explanation of the index, view the Methods & FAQs page.


Amnesties

Panama had four amnesties between 1987 and 1994. Two occurred in the context of democratic transition. Four amnesties released political prisoners.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.


Domestic Trials

TJET has compiled data on 31 domestic prosecutions between 1983 and 2015. These include 13 transitional human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which 14 persons were convicted; 18 regular human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which nine persons were convicted; and three intrastate conflict prosecutions of state agents, in which one person was convicted. In six trials that involved high-ranking state agents, one person was convicted.

Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.


Truth Commissions

Panama mandated two truth commissions in 2001 and 2016. One completed its operations by 2002. One of the commissions issued a final report, which is publicly available. The report included recommendations for reparations and institutional reforms.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.


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