According to the Ministry of Justice, as of July 31, persons in pretrial detention constituted approximately 23 percent of the prison population, compared with 16 percent in 2017. During the year the government began a consultative process of a public policy for indigenous peoples (2019-24) to protect their individual and collective rights. The law prohibits discrimination against women and obligates the government to promote political, economic, social, and cultural equality. Costa Rica: FAIRS Country Report. In April a private pineapple-producing company located in Upala closed and dismissed its employees without paying wages, severance, or social security fees, although the Labor Ministry mediated between the employees and employers. The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The Social Adaptation Division strengthened telemedicine services at La Reforma, Gerardo Rodriguez, and Cartago prisons. Law enforcement authorities were still looking for suspects as of October. For example, asylum seekers without employers (who constituted the majority of asylum seekers) faced restrictions when enrolling voluntarily as independent workers in the public health system. Birth registration was not always automatic, and migrant children were especially at risk of statelessness since they did not have access to legal documents to establish their identity if their parents did not seek birth registration for them. Costa Rica contributed 226,570 USD to UNDP’s core budget in 2014. There were cases of discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation, ranging from employment, police abuse, and education to access to health-care services. According to the Labor Ministry, this is a responsibility shared by the employer and employee. Food and Recipes: Breakfast and "morning coffee" vary depending on the person with the latest eating time about 10.30 a.m. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for the press. Transgender individuals faced barriers to legal gender recognition until, on June 28, President Alvarado signed an executive order that instructed all public entities to modify records of transgender individuals who requested the change. Also see the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/. The Ministry of Labor reported one case of firing a labor leader and three complaints of antiunion discrimination from January to July. The law requires issuance of judicial warrants before police may make an arrest, except where probable cause is evident to the arresting officer. Authorities generally observed these rights. The law requires income and asset disclosure by appointed and elected officials. The killing of a woman by her spouse garnered significant public attention, as the perpetrator stabbed the woman multiple times during a domestic dispute while two of her three children (ages five and 11) were present in the home. The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private communications without appropriate legal authority. The child and adolescence code prohibits labor of all children younger than age 15 without exceptions, including the worst forms of child labor; it supersedes the minimum working age of 12 established in the labor code. Government authorities worked together with UNHCR on a program of birth registration and provision of identification documents to stateless persons known as Chiriticos. The law criminalizes the commercial sexual exploitation of children and provides sentences of up to 16 years in prison for violations. What is Costa Rica famous for? Costa Rica country report.. [PRS Group. Although the law mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities, the government did not enforce this provision, and many buildings remained inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Child Abuse: The autonomous National Institute for Children reported violence against children and adolescents continued to be a concern, but there was no increase in the number of cases of child violence or abuse. Administration: Prisoners could submit credible allegations of mistreatment to the Ombudsman’s Office, which investigated all complaints at an administrative level. The government generally enforced child labor laws effectively in the formal sector but not in the informal sector. The ministry implemented a gender-equality perspective into labor inspections to identify areas of vulnerability. There were reports some employers also preferred to use “flexible,” or short-term, contracts, making it difficult for workers to organize and collectively bargain. Mobile teams went to remote coffee-growing areas for case identification and registration. On August 10, the Labor Ministry, the Chamber of Commerce, and UNHCR launched a program to assist asylum seekers and refugees to find jobs. Financial Disclosure: Public officials are subject to financial disclosure laws that require senior officials to submit sworn declarations of income, assets, and liabilities. The law restricts the right to strike for workers in services designated as essential by the government, including in sectors such as oil refineries and ports that are not recognized as essential services under international standards. Indigent persons have access to a public attorney at government expense. Defendants enjoy the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense and free assistance of an interpreter as necessary. The ombudsman participates in the drafting and approval of legislation, promotes good administration and transparency, and reports annually to the National Assembly with nonbinding recommendations. There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. The law prohibits night work and overtime for minors. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Costa Rica is a constitutional republic governed by a president and a unicameral legislative assembly directly elected in multiparty elections every four years. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or other persons of concern. Recent Elections: In April 2018 voters elected PAC’s Carlos Alvarado president during a second round of elections, after no candidate achieved 40 percent of the first-round vote. Government authorities worked together with UNHCR on a program of birth registration and provision of identification documents to stateless persons known as “Chiriticos.” Mobile teams went to remote coffee-growing areas for case identification and registration. According to the Ombudsman’s Office, however, the country lacked an adequate legal framework to ensure adequate mechanisms to combat discrimination, facilitate the adoption of affirmative action for individuals who suffer discrimination, and establish sanctions for those who commit discriminatory acts. Although public-sector employees are permitted to bargain collectively, the Supreme Court held that some fringe benefits received by certain public employees were disproportionate and unreasonable, and it repealed sections of collective bargaining agreements between public-sector unions and government agencies, thus restricting this right in practice. Costa Rica. A special committee of the National Assembly studies and reports on problems relating to the violation of human rights, and it also reviews bills relating to human rights and international humanitarian law. As with other labor laws, inspectors cannot fine or sanction employers who do not comply with laws on acceptable conditions of work; rather, they investigate and refer noncompliance results to labor courts. Since 2015 the commission had recommended the government provide protective measures to the Bribri and Teribe indigenous peoples, and the government indicated it would comply with the recommendations. Violence against women remained a serious problem, and as of August the government reported that nine women had been killed by a partner or spouse. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted independent monitoring of prison conditions by international and local human rights observers. The law, however, adds that, if there is no union at the enterprise or if the union lacks the support of 50 percent of the workforce, a strike can still be initiated if 35 percent of the workers call for a vote, under a secret ballot. Assuming that the Nicaraguan president, Daniel Ortega, stays in office at least until the November 2021 elections, we expect bilateral relations to remain distant for the next two years and the prospect of further social unrest in Nicaragua to remain high. For example, asylum seekers without employers (who constituted the majority of asylum seekers) faced restrictions when enrolling voluntarily as independent workers in the public health system. Costa Rica rates 12th on the 2017 Happy Planet Index in the World Happiness Report by the UN but the country is said to be the happiest in Latin America. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons, Section 3. The law establishes penalties for sex with minors and prohibits child marriage. In 2017 the Labor Ministry provided protection to 434 working minors referred by different departments within the Labor Ministry and other government agencies. On August 12, a special committee of the National Assembly recommended the Solicitor’s Office reopen the investigations related to a report submitted to the National Assembly in 2018 exonerating former president Solis. Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has an established system for providing protection to refugees. The law also requires that permanent committee members be elected freely by secret ballot without intervention of the employer. The government respected these rights. Poor conditions included inadequate space for resting, deteriorated mattresses on the floor, and inadequate access to health services. Although the law mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities, the government did not enforce this provision, and many buildings remained inaccessible to persons with disabilities. The government generally enforced applicable laws, although procedures were subject to lengthy delays and appeals. All defendants have the right to the presumption of innocence, to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, and to trial without undue delay. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. Officials are required to file a declaration annually and upon entering and leaving office. Violent crime in Costa Rica has increased in recent years. The process of fining companies or compelling employers to pay back wages or overtime has traditionally been subject to lengthy delays. Authorities promptly informed suspects of any offenses under investigation. As of August the Appeals Tribunal, which adjudicates all migration appeals, had a backlog of 476 asylum cases. UNHCR provided support and access to integration programs to individuals still pursuing adjudication and appeals. The law also permits two other types of worker organizations unique to the country: “solidarity associations,” legal entities recognized by the constitution that have both management and employee membership and serve primarily to administer funds for severance payments; and “permanent committees,” enterprise-level bodies made up of three workers elected to negotiate “direct agreements” with employers. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. Violence against indigenous people increased during the year. Defendants have the right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt. The law sets workday hours, overtime remuneration, days of rest, and annual vacation rights. Observers expressed concern about exploitative working conditions in fisheries, small businesses, and agricultural activities. There were reports some employers also preferred to use “flexible,” or short-term, contracts, making it difficult for workers to organize and collectively bargain. In partnership with UNHCR, on April 23, the government awarded “Living Integration” certifications to 20 public and private organizations to help refugees and asylum seekers earn a livelihood. Child Abuse: The autonomous National Institute for Children (PANI) reported violence against children and adolescents continued to be a concern, but there was no marked increase in the number of cases of child violence or abuse. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. The Ombudsman’s Office reported inadequate sidewalks and difficulties in access to public transportation as factors hindering the mobility of persons with disabilities. The law also requires that permanent committee members be elected freely by secret ballot without intervention of the employer. The government maintains a dedicated authority to enforce occupational safety and health (OSH) standards. Workers are entitled to one day of rest after six consecutive days of work, except in the agricultural sector, and annual paid vacations. Employment: Refugee regulations provide asylum seekers an opportunity to obtain work permits if they have to wait beyond the three months the law allows for a decision on their asylum claim (which occurs in virtually all cases). Temporary Protection: There were no programs for temporary protection beyond refugee status. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and provides for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: b. Birth Registration: Citizenship is obtained from birth within the country’s territory or can be derived if either parent is Costa Rican. The Labor Ministry generally addressed complaints by sending inspection teams to investigate and coordinate with each other on follow-up actions. Find items in libraries near you. In these cases parents did not register Ngobe-Bugle children as Costa Rican citizens at birth because they did not think it necessary, although the children lacked registration in Panama as well. Suspects were allowed access to attorneys immediately before submitting statements before a judge. Members of the Ngobe-Bugle indigenous group from Panama often worked on Costa Rican farms and occasionally gave birth there. Prison overcrowding made security and control difficult and contributed to health problems. There were cases of discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation, ranging from employment, police abuse, and education to access to health-care services. According to labor organizations, the government did not enforce these standards effectively in either the formal or the informal sectors. The law prohibits solidarity associations from representing workers in collective bargaining negotiations or in any other way that assumes the functions or inhibits the formation of trade unions. This report provides an overview of The Gambia’s regulations for food and agricultural products. On May 17, President Alvarado appointed a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) commissioner in charge of coordinating efforts between civil society and the presidency to promote LGBTI issues. Private capital flows (% of GDP) n.a. Suspects were allowed access to attorneys immediately before submitting statements before a judge. Early and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage is 18. The law permits foreign workers to join unions but prohibits them from holding positions of authority within the unions, except for foreign workers who are married to citizens of the country and have legally resided in the country for at least five years. The ministry continued to implement a gender-equality perspective into labor inspections to identify areas of vulnerability. The government policy on education and the national plan for higher education aimed to increase educational opportunities for students with disabilities. The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. Birth registration was not always automatic, and migrant children were especially at risk of statelessness since they did not have access to legal documents to establish their identity if their parents did not seek birth registration for them. The average time for resolving a pending asylum claim was 18 months from the submission of the asylum request. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit participation of women or members of minorities in the political process, and they did participate. On August 1, Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Campbell Barr appointed a presidential commissioner for Afro-Descendant Affairs. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights, Section 6. 2020 Costa Rica Country Report 2019 Costa Rica Country Report The laws and regulations prohibit discrimination regarding race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national origin or citizenship, social origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, age, language, HIV-positive status, or other communicable diseases status. The Immigration Office handled a growing number of migrants requesting refugee status, the majority from Nicaragua. The Ministry of Labor’s Inspection Directorate is responsible for labor inspection, in collaboration with the Social Security Agency and the National Insurance Institute. Discrimination: Women enjoy the same legal status and rights as men. The government continued to implement programming to eliminate illegal child labor and the worst forms of child labor by providing individual assistance through visits, interviews, and inspections to schools and workplaces. The constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right for any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. The Labor Ministry reported seven cases of discrimination from January to June. In other cases the delays were a result of court backlogs. The project is funded by the Open Society Institute (OSI) and APC and coordinated by Derechos Digitales. On May 1, the governing PAC formed a coalition with four other parties–the PLN, Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Broad Front, and Republican Social Christian Party–to gain control of the presidency of the legislature for one year. In 2017 former attorney general Jorge Chavarria retired, following his suspension for requesting the Criminal Appeals High Court to dismiss the “Cementazo” case. Illegal narcotics were readily available in the prisons, and drug abuse was common. There were isolated reports of anti-Semitic comments on social media, in particular posts that questioned Israel’s right to exist and posts featuring anti-Semitic stereotypes of the Jewish people, stating they controlled the economy, were accumulating excess wealth, and were practicing a new form of Nazism against Palestinians. The electoral code requires that a minimum of 50 percent of candidates for elective office be women, with their names placed alternately with men on the ballots by party slate. The law establishes that preventive detention should be proportional to the sentence for the alleged crime, and authorities generally complied with that mandate. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The law requires issuance of judicial warrants before making arrests, except where probable cause is evident to the arresting officer. With judicial authorization, authorities may hold a suspect incommunicado for 48 hours after arrest or, under special circumstances, for up to 10 days. Observers considered the elections free and fair. The wage council of the Ministry of Labor sets the minimum wage scale for the public and private sectors twice a year. Workers generally may work a maximum of eight hours a day or 48 hours weekly. Country report: Costa Rica Cooperativa Sulá Batsú Association for Progressive Communications (APC) March 2016 This report was produced as part of the APC project Examining Internet Freedom in Latin America (EXLILA). The government did not effectively enforce the law, however. 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