Panama: New law gives rights to sea turtles

A new law for the protection of sea turtles has come into effect in Panama, which was signed by Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen on 1st March 2023. The law recognizes, among other things, the right of sea turtles to "live in a healthy environment and to move freely, free from pollution and other anthropogenic influences that cause physical or health damage, such as climate change, pollution, unintentional capture, coastal development, and unregulated tourism." The law explicitly states that sea turtles have rights as living beings and that these rights are enforceable. This development follows a court ruling in Ecuador in January 2022, which stated that wild animals are rights holders according to constitutional provisions on the rights of nature.