Report: Rights Respected, Though Problems Remain

Costa Rica has serious problems of child prostitution, child labor and domestic violence against women and children, according to the U.S. State Department’s 2005 Country Report on Costa Rica’s human rights practices, released March 8.

While Costa Rica’s overall human rights situation is better than that of its neighbors in Central America, and improvements have been made, problems in these and other areas continue, the report found.

In addition, the report also mentioned problems with “antiquated” libel laws and excessive penalties, prison overcrowding and delays in the judicial process, specifically with preventive prison and civil and labor cases.

However, improvements have been made in increasing prison capacity – which has decreased system-wide over crowding by 4%, the report said. Also, the State Department recognized the Costa Rican government’s efforts to eradicate child labor and reduce the commercial sexual exploitation of children.