Costa Rica celebrates International Women’s Day

President Laura Chinchilla and the National Institute for Women (INAMU) highlighted International Women’s Day celebrations with a presentation at the National Stadium in San José on Thursday. The event’s theme focused on women and sports, and involved the Costa Rican Olympic Committee and the Costa Rican Sports and Recreation Institute. Honorary soccer matches dedicated to Chinchilla – the first woman to serve in Costa Rica’s highest office – started at noon.

Several Costa Rican athletes spoke about the challenges and obstacles they faced as women in competitive sports.

International Women’s Day occurs every March 8 and promotes women’s rights while calling attention to violence against women.

Events have been scheduled throughout the week to bring attention to women’s roles in Costa Rica. On Wednesday, the International Institute of Human Rights gave a talk on the state of women’s rights in Costa Rica. On Thursday night at the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center, a forum with women writers honored the memory of recently deceased and celebrated Tica author Carmen Naranjo.

On Friday, INAMU officials will pass out information about women’s rights and discuss issues throughout Avenida Central in San José, from Plaza de la Cultura to the Central Market. 

A free day of sports can be enjoyed at the first annual Women’s Sports Festival on Sunday at La Sabana Park, in western San José. Events include basketball, swimming, beach volleyball, soccer and games for toddlers, beginning at 8 a.m.