Vanguardia Jurídica

Editorial

Fernán Luis Adames Espino — 2025-07-17

Best Cybersecurity Practices for SMEs: A Review of International Experiences

Hercilia Cerrud de Dominguez — 2025-07-17

The current article provides a literature review on cybersecurity best practices used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the world. Through the assessment of academic literature, institutional reports, and case studies from Latin America, Europe and Asia, the article explores the best cybersecurity practices adopted by SMEs. The best cybersecurity practices identified were: password management; constant user training; enforce regular data backups; and, using cybersecurity regulations like ISO/IEC 27001, and NIST. In addition, the article critically analyzed success factors like executive leadership, availability of scaled resources, and working with cybersecurity institutions. Overall, while SMEs often have limited resources, it was determined that the many ways they can enhance their cybersecurity posture are strategic and easily accessibility. The article concludes with practical strength recommendations and public policy recommendations for enabling SMEs to assist their secure digital transformation.

Alternative methods of conflict resolution in the Panamanian civil procedural reform

Liz Allison Prestan Osorio — 2025-07-17

This article analyzes the implementation and effectiveness of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods (ADRs) in the context of the reform of the civil justice system in Panama. Using a descriptive, projective, and quantitative approach, the study evaluates the impact of mediation and conciliation on reducing the court burden, focusing on the Judicial Branch's ADR Centers. The results indicate a significant impact in family cases, where mediation is mandatory, but reveal limitations in their application in other civil matters. It is recommended that ADRs be expanded, training for legal practitioners strengthened, and public awareness raised about the benefits of these methods.

Consumer protection in Panama, its regulatory evolution and autonomy as a legal discipline

José Amores Navarro — 2025-07-17

Consumer protection in Panama from a general perspective does not count as a characteristic of prolonged or extensive application like other disciplines of law, whether civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, among others, which we would call traditional to differentiate its development throughout our history, implying that its existence is comparatively recent compared to those indicated. As there are elements that characterize it and grant it the value of being autonomous or independent, it is important to verify the regulatory evolution that has presented up to what is currently being developed in this regard, as well as the existing regulation in our constitutional legal system as a fundamental guarantee.

Paternity License. The application of a labor right for all workers in the public sector and private companies

Lourdes María Cabezas Moreno — 2025-07-17

The objective of this article is to highlight a labor right that exists for workers in both sectors, public and private and whose main objective is the strengthening of the paternal-filial bond. Affiliation is known as a state derived from the relationships between father and son, with a moral and even traditional base. From this relationship arise rights and obligations that tend to protect the family. The affiliation or relationship of the parent and their descendant has been changing as social conscience has changed. Paternity License has been charging validity and value in countries that have left behind the idea of leaving the first care of a newborn child to the mother.

The requirements to serve as Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller General of the Republic of Panama

Argés Eduardo Cedeño Rivera — 2025-07-17

Title IX of the Political Constitution, which deals with Public Finance, in Chapter 3, establishes the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic in articles 279 and 280, which indicate the characteristics, functions, and requirements for designating and appointing the Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller General of the Republic. Regarding the requirements, we can see that article 279 states that there will be an independent state body, called the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic, whose direction will be in charge of a public official called the Comptroller General, assisted by a Deputy Comptroller, who will be appointed for a term equal to that of the President of the Republic, during which they may not be suspended or removed except by the Supreme Court of Justice, pursuant to causes defined by law. Both will be appointed to take office on January 1, following the beginning of each ordinary presidential term. Likewise, it is indicated that to be Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller General of the Republic, it is required to be a Panamanian citizen by birth, have a university degree and be thirty-five years of age or older and not have been convicted of an intentional crime with a prison sentence of five years or more, by a final judgment issued by a court of justice.