Tracking cases that protect freedom of expression, association, and assembly
Location: Costa Rica
According to the CIVICUS Monitor, civic space in Costa Rica is rated as “narrowed”. The rights of indigenous people continue to be restricted, repression against their communities continues and no significant progress on Indigenous land policy has taken place. CSOs have denounced the lack of knowledge by public institutions about the culture, history and identity of Costa Rica’s Indigenous peoples, which leads to discriminatory and racist treatment.
Congress in Costa Rica blocked the ratification of the Escazú Agreement, a UN-backed environmental treaty, despite several civil society groups signing a letter to Congress asking legislators not to dismiss the agreement as it provides additional protection for environmental defenders.
The Costa Rican Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice condemned verbal attacks by public officials against media outlets and journalists investigating alleged online harassment. The court determined that such attacks could further limit civic space and undermine freedom of the press.
For more information about the country, visit: https://monitor.civicus.org/country/costa-rica/
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Minor Delgado Case
Indigenous rights defender Minor Ortíz Delgado has been victim of several attacks, aggressions, threats and assassination attempts that have gone unpunished to this day, despite having many of its perpetrators identified. Additionally, there are currently four criminalization proceedings against Mainor and his family.
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Communities reclaiming ancestral lands in China Kichá, Salitre, Cabagra, and Térraba
In China Kichá, in the south of Costa Rica, several indigenous communities have been evicted and judicially harassed for trying to recover their ancestral territories, occupied by non-indigenous settlers. Due to the lack of recognition and protection by the Costa Rican State, the indigenous communities are being evicted, have eviction orders pending and face criminal…