More than 15 civil society organizations in Panama have joined forces, with support from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), to demand the elimination of Article 373 of the Electoral Code, known as the “escape clause,” which allows political parties to bypass parity rules in candidate nominations.
Despite Panama having a parity law, the country registers the lowest representation of women in politics in the region. The coalition of unions, academic institutions, women’s groups, and NGOs launched a joint campaign with a common slogan and statement, stressing that closing this loophole is vital for fairer, more representative democracy. Representatives from the Electoral Tribunal, Electoral Prosecutor’s Office, and United Nations Development Programme attended as guests.
Compiled From: Elizabeth Hernández, “Promoting agreements to improve gender parity in Panama,” International IDEA, Aug. 6, 2025.