Panamá

President Mireya Moscoso’s decision in May to establish regulations restricting the Transparency Law, which guarantees access to public information to all citizens, is still being debated. Citizens have not been able to use the law as an efficient tool to obtain access to official information.
Journalism organizations and the ombudsman’s office have contested the constitutionality of the regulations, but the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on their legality.
The Journalists’ Union and allied organizations have prepared a bill, which was sponsored by a group of legislators, to restore rules and conditions for the practice of journalism. The bill did not have wide support, and President Moscoso did not approve it.

58th IAPA General Assembly
JW Marriott Hotel & Stellaris Casino
Lima, Peru
October 26-29, 2002