Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the current media environment, underfunding is another issue. There's a lamentable
lack of investigative reporting and broad-spectrum coverage on controversial issues.
Still, many young Panamanians in particular have turned to the web to inform and be in-
formed. For an alternative view on national issues, some interesting sites include
www.kaosenlared.net
(see the Latin American coverage, in Spanish), the environmental
website
www.ciampanama.org
and
www.thepanamanews.com
(in English).
Religion
Religion in Panama can best be observed by walking the streets of the capital. Among
the scores of Catholic churches, you'll find breezy Anglican churches filled with wor-
shippers from the West Indies, synagogues, mosques, a shiny Greek Orthodox church, an
impressive Hindu temple and a surreal Baha'i House of Worship (the headquarters for
Latin America).
Freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed in Panama, although the preeminen-
ce of Roman Catholicism is also officially recognized, with 85% of the country filling its
ranks. In fact, children in school have the option to study theology, though it is not com-
pulsory. Protestant denominations account for 12%, while there are also small numbers
of Muslims and Baha'i and approximately 3000 Jews (many of them recent immigrants
from Israel), 24,000 Buddhists and 9000 Hindus also live in Panama.
Additionally, the various indigenous tribes of Panama have their own belief systems,
although these are fading quickly due to the influence of Christian missionaries. As in
other parts of Latin America, the evangelical movement is spreading like wildfire.
Although Catholics are the majority, only about 20% of them attend church regularly.
The religious orders aren't particularly strong in Panama either - only about 25% of
Catholic clergy are Panamanian while the rest are foreign missionaries.
Women in Panama
Women enjoy more opportunities in Panama than they do in most other Latin American
countries. Panama even had a woman president, Mireya Moscoso, whose term ended in
2004. At the forefront of the country's political arena is the PNF (Feminist National
Party), which was founded in 1923 and is one of the oldest feminist parties in Latin
America. Historically, the PNF has been strongly critical of the male-dominated govern-
ment and has secured numerous social reforms for women and children. In 1941 the PNF
helped women secure the right to vote, while in 1981 they helped ratify the law that
eliminated all forms of discrimination against women. The Family Code, adopted in
1995, upholds the equal rights of women and abolished discriminatory clauses in the
code of 1917.
