# Panama crime surge 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/panama-crime-surge-2026 > Updated: 2026-07-26T17:30:43.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 2. Mid‑2026 data confirm a sharp escalation in gender‑based violence in Panama. Between January and June, femicide victims rose to 13 – an 86 % increase over the seven recorded in the same period of 2025 – and 17 attempted femicides were reported, up 89 % year‑on‑year. Six of the killings involved firearms. The murders, concentrated in the San Miguelto district of Panama Province and in Panama Oeste, mainly affected women aged 18‑44. In May, public prosecutor Patricia Ossa Sánchez was slain; the Ministry of Public responded by issuing the “Protocolo Patricia,” a technical guide for investigating femicide cases named after her. The protocol was drafted by the Institute of Prosecutor Training with support from UN Women and aims to standardise evidence‑gathering, case‑building and judicial decisions across the country. The National Police also reported a broader surge in domestic‑violence complaints, with 12,475 incidents logged from January to June – a 22 % rise – of which 9,239 were classified as domestic‑violence crimes. Separately, authorities documented ten disappearances of elderly individuals among 57 missing‑person reports, underscoring a wider public‑safety crisis. Women’s rights groups have condemned the femicide spike and called for stronger protective measures, while elder‑rights advocates demand improved investigations into missing‑person cases. ## Claims - 13 women were victims of femicide in Panama between January and June 2026. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Six of the femicide victims in Panama were killed with firearms. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Panama recorded 13 femicide victims in the first half of 2026. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The 13 femicide victims represent an 86 % increase compared with seven cases in the same period of 2025. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Attempts at femicide increased 89 % to 17 cases in the first half of 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The majority of femicide victims were women aged 18‑44. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Six of the femicide killings were carried out with firearms. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The provinces with the highest number of femicide cases were Panama Province, San Miguelito district and Panama Oeste. (corroborated by 3 sources) - One femicide involved the murder of a public prosecutor by her partner in March 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The 13 femicide deaths represent an 86% increase compared with the seven recorded in the same period of 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Panama recorded 17 attempted femicide cases in the first half of 2026, an 89% increase over the previous year. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-07-26: Panama reports 86% rise in femicides and unveils 'Protocolo Patricia' guide Panama recorded 13 femicides Jan‑Jun 2026 (up 86%) and 17 attempts (up 89%); most victims were 18‑44, six by firearms, concentrated in Panama Province, San Miguelito, Panama Oeste. The Ministry launched “Protoc 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-homicides-rise-8-in-first-half-of-2026-amid-gang-violence ### 2026-07-10: Panama records ten elderly disappearances amid 57 cases reported in 2026 Panama's authorities say ten elderly remain missing in 2026, part of 57 reported cases; most disappearances are voluntary, with 12 seniors found dead in 2025. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-records-ten-elderly-disappearances-amid-57-cases-reported-in-2026 --- Cite as: Panama crime surge 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/panama-crime-surge-2026