Panama
CHILD SEX ABUSE SOLs
CURRENT CIVIL SOL
Current Criminal Sun
Crimes |
Custodial sentence | Earth *1 |
Rape *2 |
Basic rate: 7 to 12 years of imprisonment. Aggravated rate: 10 to 15 years of imprisonment. Hyperaggravated: 12 to 18 years |
Basic type: 12 years. Child victim of 30 years NOTE: age of majority Aggravated type: 15 years. Child victim of 33 years. Hyper aggravated: 18 years. Child (under 14 years old) victim of 36
Until the victim turns 18
|
Statutory rape (age of
|
Imprisonment of 10 to 15 years |
18 years. Until the victim turns 36. Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
Teen rape *4 |
Basic type: Custodial sentence of 4 to 6 years Aggravated rate: The basic rate increased from one-third to one-half of the maximum. Custodial sentence of 6 to 9 years. |
Basic type: 6 years. Until the victim turns 22. Toll (suspension) SOL |
|
Sexual abuse *5 |
Basic type: 1 to 3 years in prison and/or equivalent to days fines or weekend arrests. Aggravated rate: 4 to 6 years of imprisonment |
Basic type: 3 years. Until the victim turns 21. Aggravated type: Until the victim turns 24. |
| Sexual harassment *6 |
Basic type: 1 to 3 years of Aggravated type: two custodial sentences of up to 4 years. Custodial sentence of 4 to 6 years |
Basic: 1 to 3 years Aggravated type: 4 years. Until the victim turns 22. Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
| Child corruption *7 |
Basic type: Imprisonment of 8 to 10 years Aggravated rate: 10 to 15 years of imprisonment. |
Basic type: 10 years. Until the victim turns 28. Aggravated type: 15 years. Until the victim turns 33. Until the victim turn 18 |
| Commercial sexual exploitation of children (aggravated form of commercial sexual exploitation) *8 |
Aggravated type: 10 |
12 years. Until the victim turns 30. Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
| Living off the proceeds of commercial sexual exploitation *9 |
5 to 10 years |
10 years. Until the victim turns 28 Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
| Production and distribution of material on child sexual exploitation (CSEM) *10 |
Basic type: 10 to 15 years of imprisonment Aggravated type: 15 to 20 years |
Basic type: 15 years. Aggravated type: 20 years. Until the victim Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
| Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) *11 |
Imprisonment of 5 to 10 years |
5 years after the commission of the crime Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
| Commercial child sexual exploitation by users (CCSE) *12 |
Basic type: Imprisonment of 8 to 10 years Aggravated type: 10 to 15 years |
Basic and aggravated type: 10 years. Until the victim turns 28 Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
|
Promote children’s participation in live exhibitionist/pornographic events *13 |
Basic type: 8 to 10 years Aggravated type: 10 to 15 years. |
Basic type: 10 years. Until the victim is 28 years old. Aggravated: 15 years. Until the victim is 33 years old Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
|
Pornography exhibition to a child *14 |
Basic type: 6 to 8 years. Aggravated type: 8 to 10 years |
8 years. Until the victim is 26 years old. 10 years. Until the Toll (suspension) SOL Until the victim turns 18 |
|
Failure to report crimes of corruption of minors/commercial sexual exploitation of children *15
|
1 to 3 years of imprisonment |
3 years. Until the child is 21 years old Toll (suspension) SOL |
|
Acquisition of children for |
Basic type: 10 to 12 years. |
Basic: 12 years. Until the victim is 30 years Aggravated: 21 years. Until the victim turns 39 Toll (suspension) SOL |
|
Owner/manager, tenant of a place used to commit corruption of minors/commercial sexual exploitation of children *17 |
Imprisonment of 15 to 20 years. |
20 years. Until the victim is 38 years old Toll (suspension) SOL |
|
Trafficking of children *18 |
Basic type: 5 to 10 years. Aggravated type: The penalty increased by between a third and a half. 7 years and 6 months to 15 years of imprisonment |
Basic type: 10 years from the commission of the crime. Aggravated type: 15 years from the commission of the crime. SOL criminal NOT suspended until the victim reaches the age of majority (suspension of Sol criminal only for child sexual offenses). |
|
Trafficking of children by illegal means *19 |
Imprisonment of 8 to 10 years |
10 years from the commission of the crime SOL criminal NOT suspended until the victim reaches the age of majority (suspension of Sol criminal only for child sexual offenses). |
Summary: The statute of limitations varies from 2 to 21 years depending on the crime and
aggravating circumstances.
*1 Articles 116 and 119 of panama’s Code of Criminal Procedure
*2 Article 174 Sir. Crime. Code
*3 (article 175 of the Criminal Code)
*4 Art. 175 Sir. Crime. Code
*4 Article 176 Sir. Crime. Code
*5 Art 177 Pan. Crim. Code
*6 Art. 179 Criminal Code
*7 Art. 177 Lord. Crime. Code
*8 Art 178 Pan. Crim. Codee
*7 Art 179 Pan. Crim. Code
*8 Article 180.II.1. Bread. Crim. Code
*9 Art 182 Pan. Crim. Code
*10 Art 184 Pan. Crim. Code.
*11 Art. 185 sartén. Crime code.
*12 Art 186 Pan. Crim. Code
*13 Art 187 Pan. Crim. Code
*14 Art 188 Pan. Crim. Code
*15 Art 189 Pan. Crim. Code
*16 Art 190 Pan. Crim. Code
*17 Article 191. Bread. Crim. Code
*18 Art 207 Pan. Crim. Code
*19 Art 208 Pan. Crim. Code
SOL Criminal Record
By 2008 |
In August 2008, Panama approved Law 63/2008, its new Code of Criminal Procedure. Art 119 of the new Pan. Crim.Proc.Cod. established that in crimes against sexual freedom and integrity, established in Title III* of Book Two of the Criminal Code, when the victim is a minor, the statute of limitations will begin to run from the date on which the victim reaches the age of majority. |
2020 |
In 2020, the president of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, vetoed bill 091 that would have abolished the criminal statute of limitations for crimes against sexual freedom and integrity when the victim is a minor by modifying article 116 Pan.Crim.Proc.Code. In 2022 a new bill (No. 657) has been introduced in parliament that would abolish the statute of limitations only for rape crimes when the victim is under the age of 18. The law was passed in July 2022. However, the article that abolished the criminal statute of limitations was removed from the final version of the bill. |
Concordat: N/A
Panama’s current Code of Criminal Procedure:
ARTICLE 116
Criminal statute of limitations:
Criminal proceedings prescribe:
1. Within a period equal to the maximum penalty of imprisonment corresponding to the
offence charged.
2. At the expiration of! period of three years, in the case of crimes punishable by non-custodial
sentences.
3. Within a period equal to the maximum penalty of imprisonment provided for by law for the
crimes of embezzlement, unjustified enrichment and property crimes against any public entity,
which shall not be less than ten years.
In the case of crimes of terrorism, crimes against humanity and enforced disappearance of
persons, criminal proceedings shall not be time-barred.
ARTICLE 119
Start of the period of time limitations.
The statute of limitations for criminal proceedings shall run, for completed offences, from the
day of consummation; for continuous and permanent, from the day they ceased, and for
attempts, from the day on which the last act of execution was carried out.
In crimes against sexual freedom and integrity, established in Title III of Book Two of the
Criminal Code, when the victim is a minor, the limitation period shall begin to run from the date
on which the victim reaches the age of majority.
The statute of limitations for criminal proceedings in offences of undue withholding of
contributions shall begin to run on the day on which the worker should have acquired the right
to a pension or retirement.