No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeCosta Rica Pressured by UN to End Impunity in Indigenous Leader Killings

Costa Rica Pressured by UN to End Impunity in Indigenous Leader Killings

The United Nations (UN) has called on Costa Rica to take immediate action to ensure that this murder does not go unpunished and to prevent further violence against the integrity of indigenous peoples and their territories.

The UN regrets that, more than four years after the murder of indigenous rights leader Jerhy Rivera, the judicial proceedings have yet to result in the punishment of the perpetrators and masterminds, as well as compensation for the damage caused by this crime, allowing it to remain in a state of impunity,” the statement read.

The organization acknowledges that the judicial system is a pillar of the rule of law in Costa Rica. Therefore, it urges the country to ensure that judicial processes reflect recent efforts by the Judiciary to guarantee access to justice for indigenous peoples—an obligation assumed by the Costa Rican State.

This pronouncement follows similar concerns expressed last January regarding the acquittal of those suspected of orchestrating the death of indigenous leader Sergio Rojas, in a case where the court cited significant issues with the intercultural approach taken during the investigation.

“We reiterate to the Costa Rican State the recommendations made by United Nations Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples José Francisco Calí Tzay in 2021,” they added.

The recommendations call for continued development of the access-to-justice policy, with active participation from indigenous communities, in line with international standards and with technical assistance from OHCHR. Additionally, ongoing and effective training on indigenous rights, their worldviews, and the principle of conventionality should be mandatory for all Judiciary personnel.

The State must also allocate sufficient financial and human resources to ensure culturally appropriate services during judicial proceedings involving indigenous persons, including the provision of interpreters free of charge when necessary or requested. Furthermore, indigenous rights and their worldview should be mandatory subjects in public selection processes for positions within the Judiciary and State Security Forces.

“The United Nations System expresses its solidarity with the families of Jerhy Rivera and Sergio Rojas, as well as the Bribri and Térraba peoples, in the hope that security, peace, and justice will uphold the constitutional values of this multiethnic and multicultural nation,” the UN added.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Replaces One-Lane Bridges as Traffic and Population Grow

As the infrastructure of Costa Rica advances, with new four-lane highways and a series of bypasses around San José that avoid the narrow, congested...

Former Zoo to Become Costa Rica’s First Urban Natural Park

Simón Bolívar Park, in San José, will be the first space in the country to become an Urban Natural Park. The project, led by...

Costa Rica’s Sibö Chocolate Wins Bronze at Int’l Awards

Chocolate Sibö once again stood out at the International Chocolate Awards, the largest fine chocolate competition based in New York. The Costa Rican brand...

Costa Rica’s Role in US Deportation Drama with Salvadoran Migrant

A Salvadoran man at the center of a heated US immigration battle could end up in Costa Rica if he accepts a guilty plea,...

Panama Canal Warns of Traffic Decline as Economic Uncertainty Grows

The Panama Canal will take in about $400 million less in the next fiscal year due to a drop in ship traffic caused by...

Honduras agrees to receive migrants under new US deportation agreement

The US has signed a new deportation agreement with Honduras, allowing officials to send migrants from other countries there instead of keeping them in...
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