A/HRC/59/49/Add.2 Annex Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gehad Madi, on his visit to Panama I. Introduction 1. At the invitation of the Government of Panama, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gehad Madi, conducted an official visit to the country from 13 to 19 February 2025. The main objectives of the visit were to examine the human rights situation of migrants in Panama, focusing on reported violations and abuses faced by those who had crossed through the jungle in the Darién region from Colombia. The Special Rapporteur took the opportunity to examine information received on the overall response of Panama to mixed movements of migrants and refugees in the country, as well as challenges and opportunities in ensuring the protection and promotion of the human rights of migrants and refugees residing in or transiting through Panama. He also assessed domestic migration and asylum policies and practices, legal frameworks, regional collaboration strategies and accountability mechanisms for addressing human rights violations and abuses against migrants. 2. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of relevant governmental authorities, the national human rights institution, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, and migrants and refugees. In Panama City, the Special Rapporteur met high-level representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security (including representatives of the National Migration Service, the National Border Service and its Humanitarian Border Security Unit, and the National Air and Naval Service), the Ministry of Government (including the National Office for Refugee Affairs and the Office of the Deputy Minister for Indigenous Affairs), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry for Women, the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Organized Crime Office of the Public Prosecution Service, the Ombudsperson’s Office, the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Science, the National Assembly and the Access to Justice and Gender Unit of the Supreme Court of Justice. 3. In addition to the meetings held in the capital, the Special Rapporteur visited the Darién region. He visited the Emberá-Wounaan Indigenous community, meeting with Indigenous leaders and community members from Bajo Chiquito, Emberá Province. In Metetí, Darién Province, he met with the Mayor of Pinogana, representatives of Metetí Municipality and local representatives of the National Border Service, National Migration Service and the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family. 4. In addition to meetings, the Special Rapporteur conducted visits to the temporary migrant reception centres in Lajas Blancas and San Vicente, and La Casita shelter for unaccompanied migrant children, in Metetí. 5. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation the authorities in Panama for their cooperation prior to, during and after the visit. He thanks the United Nations country team in Panama for its valuable support and assistance. He also extends his gratitude to all migrants and refugees for sharing their personal experiences and for offering their personal testimonies and insightful observations, which helped him to understand the migration context in Panama. II. Background information 6. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. The gross domestic product per capita in Panama was last recorded at $18,661.77 in 2023, the highest in the region. 2 GE.25-06871