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Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Panama

REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.

• Population:
  – total: 2,812,000
  – under-18s: 1,056,000
• Government armed forces:
  – active: nil
  – paramilitary: 11,800
• Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
• Voluntary recruitment age: 18
• Voting age (government elections): 18
• Child soldiers: none indicated
• CRC-OP-CAC: signed on 31 October 2000
• Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 182

• There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.

GOVERNMENT National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Article 305 of the 1978 Constitution states that "All Panamanians are required to take arms to defend national independence and territorial integrity of the state." However, the armed forces were dissolved in 1994 and conscription does not exist. National legislation prohibits the recruitment of persons less than 18 years old, either compulsorily or voluntarily.

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

Panama signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 31 October 2000. It is currently in the process of ratification, with the National Congress recognising the instrument as national law in December 2000 (Law No. 48 of 15 Dec. 2000). Final deposit is pending. Panama proposed that the Summit of Chiefs of Iberoamerican States held in November 2000 adopt a statement promoting ratification of the Optional Protocol.

Topics: Child soldiers, Military service,