DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

18 assaults in 24 hours

06-11-2009 | DARMA L. ZAMBRANA

Dzambrana@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. Eighteen cases of domestic violence were recently reported within a 24 hours span, in different sectors of Panama, of which 12 were against women.

According to police reports, most of the cases included physical aggression and verbal abuse, a growing social problem in the country.

Four of the cases were against children, while two were of men abused by their partners.

Less than two weeks ago, the Panamanian Observatory against Gender Violence was inaugurated to raise the visibility of domestic violence and its repercussions on the country

At the inauguration, Panama’s ombudsman Ricardo Vargas said that “gender violence not only brings about physical, sexual or psychological harm, but also constitutes one of the greatest worries for States, given the consequences that it generates in our societies, as detailed in many international declarations that protect women’s rights.”

The UN says worldwide, one in three women have suffered domestic violence.