Empowering Women in Indigenous Host Communities in Panama

Between 2021 and 2024, hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Darien Gap, a dangerous stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama, and the main route on foot towards destination countries like Mexico, the United States, and Canada. During that time, many indigenous communities greeted the migrants and asylum seekers, providing much needed relief. Even though these communities don’t have much, they stepped up to welcome people in transit.

“The Darién communities were never passive to the migration crisis. Instead, they became an essential part of the humanitarian response,” said Andrehina Diaz, HIAS Panama’s Program Manager. “By working with indigenous leaders and community members, we have reinforced local capacities and fostered a deeper understanding of the vulnerabilities faced by displaced people.”

In 2025, the U.S. government began implementing draconian immigration policies that restricted the right to asylum for people seeking safety at the U.S.-Mexico border. At first, many asylum seekers decided to stay in Mexico or they began a “reverse migration” south back to their home countries. But by this year, very few people are crossing the Darien Gap or transiting near the indigenous host communities, such as in the Emberá Wounaan region in Panama.

“It is a province whose communities have been severely affected by the passage of migratory flows over the last few years,” said Oliver Bush, HIAS Panama’s Country Director. “The departure or change in these migratory flows has left certain consequences and negative impacts in the communities.”

Contrary to popular belief, most refugees and displaced people are hosted in neighboring low- and middle-income countries. When people are forced to seek safety elsewhere, they often rely on host communities, like the indigenous communities in the Emberá Wounaan region, to provide emergency assistance. But very few organizations work to help the host communities that are providing the most care for refugees. At HIAS, it’s part of our mission to not only help displaced people, but also to help the host communities who are giving so much to those in need.

With migration routes changing in the Darien Gap, many organizations departed or decreased operations, leaving behind communities that still needed assistance. At HIAS, we knew we needed to stay and support these host communities that had stood in solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers when they needed help.

“For HIAS, it was highly important to continue supporting the host communities in Darién, not only because of the existing assistance and protection needs, but also because, given the impact of the migratory flow on these communities, we see a clear opportunity to work under a nexus approach,” Oliver said. “We provide assistance while also strengthening the capacities and leadership of the communities and Panamanian authorities, which are an essential foundation for the development of this region of Panama.”

HIAS has supported refugees and displaced people in Panama since 2010 and has worked in the Darien region since 2020. HIAS Panama provides displaced people with protection services and mental health care, as well as works to end violence against women and girls.

Over the last two years, in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), HIAS created a campaign to provide the indigenous communities of the Emberá Wounaan region with reliable health information, in their language, and in accessible and culturally relevant formats. The project aimed to empower women and girls to make informed decisions about their health and to prevent violence.

HIAS Panama directly reached more than 3,000 people, the majority of whom were women and girls. Program participants began to recognize their worth, strengthen their self-esteem, and learn about their rights.

“Dominance isn’t just about men deciding for us, as they say. Today, we decide for ourselves,” said Emeralda, community leader from the Noko tribe in Bajo Chiquito in Panama.

The campaign was created in collaboration with the indigenous communities in the Emberá Wounaan region. HIAS Panama conducted community consultations and listened to the voices of women, young people, and leaders of each territory to design the project. Over the course of the program, many women and girls learned how to advocate for themselves and for their communities. 

“The project arrived in our community more than two years ago, initially led by a women’s leader. Later through women’s empowerment programs, it also reached adolescents,” said Esmeralda. “It was a great benefit because we truly didn’t know what a leader was before.” 

HIAS is proud that the women and girls in the campaign are now more informed about making decisions regarding their health, leading others, and planning their futures. Thanks to the support of AECID, we are preparing to continue working with the indigenous communities to improve their well-being. 

“I felt proud that they taught me what I didn’t know, and I learned a lot,” said Martira, the leader of the Nuevo Viga community. “I’ve attended three training sessions and from that I’m here speaking in front of you, something I’ve never done before. It was a fantastic program for me, and it’s one I’d like to see continue.”