No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveC.R. Gets Mixed Grades On Human Rights Report

C.R. Gets Mixed Grades On Human Rights Report

Costa Rica got a host of high marks on a human rights report card published recently by the U.S. State Department.

The country graded well on police corruption and brutality but poorly on press freedom, jail overcrowding and sanitation, judicial process delays, child sexual exploitation and marginalization of indigenous people.

The country was hailed for not having any politically motivated disappearances and not practicing torture. The U. S. government, meanwhile, has faced international criticism for housing prisoners without due process at GuantanamoBay and endorsing questionable interrogation tactics, such as waterboarding.

One of the more serious problems mentioned in the U.S. report included housing pretrial detainees with convicted felons, which is a violation of Costa Rica’s laws.

The report also emphasized that the country’s “court overcrowding and antiquated legal system” have greatly compromised its response to crime.

Costa Rica is weak on enforcing labor laws and has declined to enforce a 12-year-old law requiring all buildings to be handicapped-accessible, the report states.

On press freedom, the report cited antiquated libel laws and excessive penalties for violations.

“The provisions (of the law) outline a series of (defamation) laws that establish up to three years in prison for those convicted of insulting the honor or decorum of a public official,” the report states. “The law also identifies defamation, libel, slander and calumny as offenses against a person’s honor that can carry criminal penalties.”

The U.S. State Department said it has been compiling human rights reports on other countries since 1977.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Launches Traceability System to Tackle Illegal Logging

Costa Rica is advancing with the creation of a National Forest Traceability System, a key tool to guarantee the legality and sustainability of timber...

Costa Rica Celebrates 201st Annexation Anniversary With New Nicoya Park

Nearly 200 people joined the Municipality of Nicoya this Sunday to inaugurate a new park at the Annexation Monument, an initiative that blends recreation,...

Costa Rica Opens New Pedestrian Bridge at Guayabo National Monument

Costa Rica has added a new attraction to its archaeological sites with the opening of a pedestrian bridge at Guayabo National Monument. The structure...

Can Costa Rica’s Blue Zone Preserve Its Longevity Legacy?

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is recognized worldwide as one of the five blue zones, where people live beyond the age of 90...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Drowning in Costa Rica Ruled Accidental

The death of American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has been confirmed as accidental drowning, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Warner, 54, was...

Keylor Navas Joins Pumas UNAM in Major Liga MX Transfer

Keylor Navas has agreed to become the new goalkeeper for Pumas UNAM, marking one of the biggest signings in recent Liga MX history. The...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica