Panama Mid-Term Progress Report 2015-2017

In 2017, the Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM)The Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) is OGP’s accountability arm and the main means of tracking progress in participating countries. The IRM provides independent, evidence-based, and objective ... published the Progress Report for Panama’s second action planAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen.... The report covers the implementation of the action plan from July 2015 through June 2016.

In Panama, findings from the IRM, are summarized below:

“The development of Panama’s second action plan was an important step forward in terms of civil society’s participation in the process. The commitments touch on priority issues in the country like asset disclosureAsset declaration laws are an essential safeguard against corruption that require public servants to disclose information on their wealth, possessions, and other interests. Technical specifications: A... and openness in the selection of high-level officials. One of the main challenges in the future is the sustainability of civil society’s participation during the implementation phase.”

And in Spanish:

“El desarrollo del segundo plan de acción de Panama representó un avance importante respecto a la participación de sociedad civil. Los compromisos abordan temas de interés nacional, como la transparencia en las declaraciones patrimoniales y la apertura de los procesos de selección de altos funcionarios del Estado. Uno de los principales retos a futuro es la sostenibilidad de la participación de sociedad civil en la etapa de implementación.”

The two-week public comment periodclosed Sunday 12 November 2017.