Through the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the Accounting Prosecutor’s Office, the Ombudsman's Office and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the official transfer of the Pro-Culture of Legality Debate Tournament from the Prosecutor's Office to IOM was carried out on 29 May 29 2024. This year, the tournament will focus on the theme "Migration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Governance in Panama", marking the beginning of a new stage for the event that seeks to foster critical thinking among school and university students on issues of culture of legality, ethics and accountability.

Participating in the event were Waleska Hormechea, Accounting Prosecutor General; Carolina García Alvarado, Secretary General of the Ombudsman's Office; and Giuseppe Loprete, Director of the Panama Administrative Centre (PAC) and IOM Panama Chief of Mission.

With the aim of promoting reflection and critical analysis among young people, the Accounting Prosecutor’s Office created the tournament in 2021 and, the following year, the responsibility for its organization was transferred to the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (ANTAI). In 2023, the Ombudsman's Office hosted this initiative, with young people from all provinces and several schools throughout the country.

This year, IOM will organize training workshops and discussions in several provinces, with the participation and support of various partners, institutions and the private sector. Focused on the relationship between migration and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the debates will address issues such as climate change, human rights and local development. The final of the debate tournament will be organized in Panama City in September with the participation of all young students, partners and government institutions.

Giuseppe Loprete expressed his enthusiasm and underlined the responsibility that IOM assumes with this handover, highlighting the importance of continuing the tradition of fostering a space where young people can debate and reflect on crucial issues for society. "For this year, we plan to hold an equally successful event calling the students of the country. We have a very motivated team," he added.

The Pro-Culture of Legality Debate Tournament has been a vital platform for middle school, high school and university students to share their ideas, develop their critical thinking and actively participate in the country’s sustainable development, guaranteeing the construction of a more informed and participatory society. IOM will continue this

mission and reaffirms its commitment to contribute to the intellectual and ethical growth of young people in the country. In the coming weeks, the registration dates and the planned workshops and trainings will be communicated.

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team at iompanama@iom.int