PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review 47 – UK Statement on Costa Rica [November 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2024.

Statement by the UK at Costa Rica’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President,

We welcome Costa Rica’s commitment to tackling discrimination including as the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to launch a national strategy against hate speech and discrimination.

We urge the government to take further steps to reduce discrimination, particularly against women and children, and the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition, we welcome Costa Rica’s commitment to the American Convention on Human Rights, but are concerned by recent criticism of the media.

We have three recommendations:

1. Take additional steps to implement Act No.9406, to enhance legal protection for girls and adolescent women associated with abusive relationships, to help tackle the recent surge in domestic violence.
2. Take further measures to protect rights of LGBTQ+ persons, including banning the process of conversion therapy.
3. Ensure the protection of media freedom by strengthening legal protection guarantees for journalists, the media and civil society.

Thank you.