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This article provides an in-depth analysis of the principle of effective judicial protection in Panama’s new Code of Civil Procedure, examining how this principle is incorporated, safeguarded, and developed within the new procedural framework, as compared to the previous regime. It explores how the new code ensures genuine access to justice, procedural efficiency, and the protection of the parties’ fundamental rights, in line with both constitutional and conventional standards. The study concludes that the Panamanian procedural reform strengthens effective judicial protection through swifter and more effective proceedings focused on the resolution of the merits of the case, thereby aligning domestic practice with constitutional principles and international human rights standards. The changes introduced—such as orality, the simplification of procedural steps, ex officio procedural impetus, and free legal assistance for vulnerable groups—represent significant advances toward making this fundamental right effective in the administration of civil justice in Panama.
