No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveSecurity Minister declares zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Security Minister declares zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Costa Rica’s Public Security Minister, José María Tijerino, spoke today to female lawmakers about Costa Rica’s sexual harassment law and how it should be applied to policies at the National Police. He said he would follow President Laura Chinchilla’s recommendation to work with Public Security Vice Minister Flora María Calvo to implement a policy of gender equity in the police force.

On Jan. 15, Calvo quit her post at the ministry, claiming cases of sexual harassment by male officers against female officers went unpunished.

Tijerino promised to better enforce sexual harassment policies in the future. “As minister, there will be zero tolerance for sexual harassment and there will be support for any woman to denounce it when it happens,” he said. “As minister of Public Security, I can’t handle every case, so I trust the (Ombudsman’s Office) to follow up on complaints and make sure the law is enforced.”

However, female police officers have complained that gender bias exists when it comes to patrol assignments, and stereotyping is common within the police force.

Tijerino responded by saying, “Let’s be realistic. If women close their eyes when they shoot, we can’t protect the public that way.”

“Tijerino is minimizing the problem, so we’re asking the Ombudsman’s Office to follow up and investigate, to have real numbers and start a campaign against sexual harassment,” Gloria Bejarano, a lawmaker from the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), told The Tico Times.

Lawmakers also vowed to create a government agency to enforce sexual harassment laws in all government institutions.

Popular Articles

Costa Rica Orders Halt to Illegal Building in Protected Forest

The Osa Environmental Prosecutor’s Office has received a court order to stop a residential construction project in the Paso la Danta Biological Corridor in...

Costa Rica’s Record Meth Bust in Tibás Raises Concerns

Costa Rican authorities seized 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Tibás, marking our country’s largest synthetic drug seizure. The operation, conducted by the Drug...

U.S. Embassy in Honduras Issues Urgent Alert Over Mass Shooting Threats

The United States Embassy in Honduras issued a security alert warning of potential mass shooting threats targeting three locations in the capital, Tegucigalpa. The...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles