Defending the environment under legal threat

Civil society organizations and individuals have signed a public letter calling for a halt to the use of the judicial system as a tool to harass environmental defenders in Panama. They are speaking out because two Panamanian environmental organizations have been…criminally charged ¿Their “fault”? Questioning a port project that would put theDavid mangroves, one of the most important ecosystems in the country.

The Puerto Barú case marks a turning point. Instead of addressing the well-documented technical, legal, and environmental questions, criminal complaints are being filed toto silence citizen participation. The substance is not discussed, the voice is punished.

And when questioning a project becomes a personal risk, the problem ceases to be environmental and becomes… democratic.

Protecting the environment is a right, not a crime

Panama is a State Party to the Escazú Agreement. This commitment is not symbolic. It entails concrete obligations: to protect environmental defenders, guarantee their participation, and prevent any form of intimidation or institutional violence. That is why today we state clearly:Protecting the environment is a right, not a crime.

Say No to Puerto BarúToday it is much more than opposing a port project. It is about demanding institutional coherence, respect for international commitments, and real guarantees for the defense of the public interest.

If the government rejects this project, it will send a historic signal to the world:
In Panama, defenders do not remain silent and nature is respected.

Today more than ever: visibility protects human rights defenders.