The United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group will assess Panama’s human rights record for the fourth time on 5 November 2025 in Geneva. The review, which will be webcast live, is part of the UPR’s ongoing process of evaluating all UN Member States on their human rights commitments.
Panama is among 14 countries being reviewed during the Working Group’s session from 3 to 14 November 2025. The country’s previous reviews were conducted in 2010, 2015, and 2020. The UPR Working Group consists of 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council, though any UN Member or Observer State may participate in the review.
Each country’s review is based on three main documents: a national report submitted by the State under review, findings from UN human rights experts and treaty bodies, and additional input from civil society groups and national institutions. For Panama, these documents outline the country’s human rights progress and ongoing challenges.
The UPR, established in 2008, serves as a peer-review mechanism for all 193 UN Member States to demonstrate their human rights advancements and respond to previous recommendations. During the fourth cycle, Panama will outline actions taken to address earlier recommendations and provide updates on current human rights developments.
Costa Rica, the Gambia, and Thailand will act as rapporteurs (the “troika”) for Panama’s review. The UPR Working Group will adopt the recommendations made to Panama on 14 November 2025, when the country will have the opportunity to share its official stance on the proposed recommendations.
