Photo by Paula Uribe, © RET International

Article by Paula Uribe, Regional Technical Manager of RET in Latin America and the Caribbean

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – Within the framework of the Regional Forum on the Central American Policy for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (PCGIR), the thematic event on migration and displacement in disaster contexts was held, a space for technical and political dialogue that addressed the differentiated impacts of climate and environmental risks on the dynamics of human mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In this space, Leonarda De Gracia, RET Program Coordinator in Panama, participated on behalf of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the Defense of the Rights of Refugee, Migrants and Displaced Populations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC-WDN Coalition), a strategic alliance of civil society organizations, national,  regional and international standards with regional coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean that work with refugee, migrant and displaced populations within the framework of international and regional principles and standards of Human Rights, International Refugee Law and International Humanitarian Law).

Photo by Paula Uribe, © RET International

The report confirms that child poverty in Panama is not homogeneous, but rather structural and territorially concentrated, associated with limited access to essential services, economic opportunities, and protection systems.

In this context, as a UNICEF partner in Panama for child protection and early childhood, RET reaffirms our commitment to contributing to comprehensive, evidence-based responses, particularly in the areas where the gaps are deepest.

With more than a decade of presence in the country, RET has developed sustained interventions in highly vulnerable contexts, including scattered rural areas, host communities, and indigenous regions. During this time, it has implemented multiple projects, establishing more than 20 service centers and reaching thousands of children, adolescents, and their families through protection services, psychosocial support, education, and community strengthening.

In particular, in the context of human mobility and the crisis in Darién, RET has worked alongside UNICEF to provide protection services and comprehensive care at migrant reception centers and in indigenous communities, benefiting thousands of people in transit and host communities.

Likewise, the organization has contributed to institutional and public policy strengthening, including the development of protocols for the care of unaccompanied children and support for regulatory frameworks to ensure educational continuity.

In addition, RET has promoted capacity-building programs and opportunities for adolescents and youth at risk, achieving concrete results in educational reintegration and access to employment through a comprehensive approach that combines education, psychosocial support, life skills, and coordination with public and private actors.

Photo by Paula Uribe, © RET International

This experience confirms what the report highlights:

• Territorial gaps require differentiated responses
• Early childhood and adolescence in vulnerable contexts require comprehensive interventions
• Coordinated work between the State, international cooperation, and specialized organizations is key

In line with the report’s recommendations, which emphasize the need to strengthen social protection, expand multisectoral services, and prioritize early childhood, RET continues to work on:

• Strengthening local child protection systems
• Creating safe and protective environments in contexts of mobility
• Holistic early childhood development
• Prevention of violence and protection risks
• Strengthening community and institutional capacities

The evidence generated by MIDES and UNICEF highlights the magnitude of the challenge and clearly guides where and how to intervene.

Reducing child poverty in Panama requires sustaining and deepening efforts, with a territorial, intersectoral, and rights-based approach.

At RET, we reaffirm our commitment to continue contributing, alongside the Panamanian government and our partners, to ensuring that every girl and boy has access to protection, quality services, and opportunities for development. Join the conversation. How do you think we can close the territorial gaps in Panama? Read the full report at the link: https://www.unicef.org/panama/informes/pobreza-infantil-panama

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