Friday, May 22, 2026

Exhibitionism for sexual purposes will be penalized in Panama with prison sentences of 2 to 6 years.

Exhibitionism with a lascivious purpose or the intention of satisfying one's own or others' sexual desires will be sanctioned in Panama with prison sentences of 2 to 4 years, if this is committed near schools, hospitals, churches or public transport.

If the act is carried out in the presence of minors the penalty will be from 3 to 6 years, according to Law 521 of April 27, 2026, which adds sanctions to the Penal Code, tending to typify the crime of exhibitionism.

The rule clarifies that there will be no sanctions when the exhibition occurs in sex service establishments duly authorized and in adult entertainment centers or places accessible to the public.

These places must comply with the fact that the activity they carry out must take place in specifically designated spaces for it and have the corresponding permits issued by the competent authority.

In the same way, that the activity is carried out with the informed consent of those present and out of the sight of people who have not given their consent.
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Exhibitionism in public places, such as public transport, will also be penalized.

It is specified that these acts  should not be performed in the presence of minors. The most recent case of exhibitionism in Panama occurred last January when a 28-year-old man was reported by neighbors of the Altos de las Pradera neighborhood, in La Chorrera, Panama Oeste province, for masturbating in the backyard of his house. The act was in plain sight, mainly of minors, so he faced charges for corruption of minors. The law, which was sanctioned by President José Raúl Mulino, establishes that the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development, will develop campaigns of prevention, awareness, and reporting on acts of indecent exposure, aimed especially at the protection of children and adolescents. By 2025, a proposal had already been presented in the National Assembly that sought to penalize exhibitionism in public spaces, establishing sentences of up to 7 years in prison for those who engaged in this type of act. Government entities will develop prevention, awareness, and reporting campaigns on exhibitionism. Established that the simple exhibition of genitals or acts of a sexual nature with lascivious intent in public spaces could carry prison sentences of one to 2 years. His proponent, the deputy Manuel Cheng pointed out at the time that it was not a moralistic project, but a necessary legal tool to sanction this behavior. For its purposes, the now official legislation defines acts of a sexual nature as behavior or objectively sexual conduct carried out for the purpose of sexual arousal or satisfaction that implies the exhibition of genitals, which may consist of masturbation, sexual contact of a person with an object or animal, or sexual contact between people regardless of whether or not it involves penetration, touching or other analogous action.
You can also read: Police arrest nine involved in domestic violence and sexual crimes in Mao and Esperanza
Public access places are defined as those spaces or establishments that, by their nature, activity, or affinity, are open for the entry, use, or enjoyment of any person, whether free of charge or for payment, with no more limitations than those of the right of admission in accordance with current legislation.

Public places are defined as those spaces that belong to the State, such as municipalities or other public entities or which, by their nature, are intended for the collective use of citizens, includes, but is not limited to, public roads, parks, offices and state dependencies, rivers and beaches.

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