# Costa Rica - United States Department of State

- Costa Rica HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Costa Rica				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Costa Rica																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																											b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																											f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)																																																																											g. Stateless Persons																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Indigenous Peoples																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Costa Rica in the past year.There were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution and law prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports that government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Some prison and detention center conditions were harsh due to overcrowding and inadequate sanitary conditions.Abusive Physical Conditions: Overcrowding was a problem. As of July 31, the prison population exceeded the designed capacity of prisons by 12 percent. Although the Ministry of Justice made efforts to expand prison capacity further and improve conditions in accordance with international standards, some prisons remained overcrowded, with the population in pretrial detention experiencing the most overcrowding.Poor conditions included inadequate space for resting, deteriorated mattresses on the floor, and inadequate access to health services. In June, an Alajuela Sentence Enforcement Court ordered the closing of the Gerardo Rodríguez Echeverría Institutional Detention Center due to inhuman conditions. Illegal narcotics were readily available in prisons, and drug abuse was common.On January 25, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court ordered the creation of an internal security protocol for police personnel in units of the women’s prison, after a group of inmates took cell keys from a prison officer and attacked a fellow inmate in her own cell.Administration: The Ombudsperson’s Office investigated all prisoner complaints, including credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring: The government permitted independent monitoring of prison conditions by international and local human rights observers. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) monitored the migration detention facility, and the Ombudsperson’s Office monitored all other detention centers, with UNHCR visiting monthly and the ombudsperson preparing annual reports.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right for any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court. The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law required issuance of judicial warrants before police could make an arrest, except where probable cause was evident to the arresting officer. The law entitled a detainee to a judicial determination of the legality of detention during arraignment before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. The law provided for the right to post bail and prompt access to an attorney and family members. Indigent persons had access to a public attorney at government expense. Those without sufficient personal funds were also able to use the services of a public defender. With judicial authorization, authorities could hold a suspect incommunicado for 48 hours after arrest or, under special circumstances, for up to 10 days. Special circumstances included cases in which pretrial detention previously was ordered and there was reason to believe a suspect might reach an agreement with accomplices or obstruct the investigation. Suspects were allowed access to attorneys immediately before submitting statements before a judge. Authorities promptly informed suspects of any offenses under investigation. Habeas corpus provided legal protection for citizens against threats from police; it also required judges to give a clear explanation of the legal basis for detention of and evidence against a suspect.On May 30, the president signed an amendment to the organized crime law that doubled the allowable length of preventive detention and clarified which cases should be processed in the specialized jurisdiction for organized crime.Arbitrary Arrest: On October 9, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled against the municipality of Escazu for the arbitrary detention on September 24, of a citizen for alleged obstruction of police work. Separately on October 17, the chamber ruled against police forces for the arbitrary detention on September 9, of a protester during protest.Pretrial Detention: Lengthy pretrial detention was a problem. The average length of pretrial detention was 90 to 180 days. In some cases, delays were due to pending criminal investigations and lengthy legal procedures. In other cases, the delays were a result of court backlogs. The length of pretrial detention generally did not equal or exceed the maximum sentence for the alleged crime. The law established that preventive detention should be proportional to the sentence for the alleged crime, and authorities generally complied with that mandate.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The law provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.The legal system experienced significant delays in the adjudication of criminal cases and civil disputes due to inadequate staffing, organizational inefficiencies, and the numerous opportunities for parties – particularly defendants in criminal cases – to cause procedural delays.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The law prohibited such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.Violence and Harassment: Media, academic, and civil society contacts noted an increase in verbal attacks and intimidation from state officials against journalists since 2022. On May 23, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled President Chaves’ and former Minister of Health Jocelyn Chacón’s verbal attacks against media during a January 9 press conference constituted “an excess” and risked promoting harassment against the outlets and journalists the officials named. On July 24, 26 former heads of state and government under the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas grouping issued an open letter expressing concern regarding the state of press freedoms in Latin America, including in Costa Rica, citing Chaves’ insults against journalists and the alleged use of state institutions to place economic pressure media outlets. Media, academic, and civil society contacts indicated a reduction in access to public information during the year. There were reports of government officials verbally harassing certain media outlets and specific journalists, as well as using government resources to punish certain outlets for reporting critically on the administration. In August 2022, some outlets including the electronic newspaper CRHoy, ceased sending correspondents to cover the president’s weekly press conferences, citing harassment and safety concerns. Media and academic observers noted a concentration of public advertising by the National System of Radio and Telecommunications, a state agency, and claimed there had been a reduction in public-sector advertising funds targeting media outlets deemed critical of the administration. Reports also indicated an increase in online harassment and self-censorship due to the administration’s public rebukes of journalists, opposition politicians, and other critics. Chaves’ social media accounts routinely posted “likes” on social media content that insulted his opponents. In February, Chaves dismissed accusations that his then health minister paid someone to harass journalists at three news outlets.																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.Access to Asylum: The law provided for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government had an established system for providing protection to refugees. The law required authorities to process the claims within three months of receipt. Authorities provided appointments to file asylum claims on the same day or within a few weeks of application; however, it took up to 10 years to adjudicate applications filed before January due to a backlog of approximately 200,000 pending claims. The Migration Authority Refugee Unit, within the Directorate General of Immigration and Nationality, was overburdened by the sharply rising number of persons requesting asylum or refugee status since 2018, with the majority originating from Nicaragua. The government sought international support to bolster the Migration Authority’s capacity.During the year, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional provisions of the executive orders issued in December 2022 to regulate the processing of asylum claims and create a new regularization category for migrants who might not qualify for or had been denied asylum. On February 20, the court ruled against the prohibition for asylum seekers to travel outside of the country while their claim was being processed. On August 30, the court ruled against the requirement to relinquish asylum claims to apply for the regularization category. The president signed an amended decree eliminating this requirement prior to the ruling.Employment: Asylum seekers filling new petitions had to wait three months to apply for work authorization and had to submit additional documentation.Access to Basic Services: By law, asylum seekers and refugees had access to public services and social welfare programs, but access was often hampered by lack of knowledge regarding their status in the country, failure of service providers to recognize the identification documents provided to asylum seekers by the Migration Authority, and xenophobia among some service providers. For example, asylum seekers without employers (who constituted most asylum seekers) faced restrictions when enrolling voluntarily as independent workers in the public health system.Refugees and asylum seekers reported access to health services was difficult. They qualified for public health services only if they were children, pregnant, or facing a life-threatening emergency, but some individuals reported being denied services even in emergency situations. During the year, UNHCR funded health insurance for 6,000 of the most vulnerable refugees through an agreement with the social security system.Durable Solutions: The government implemented a Protection Transfer Arrangement in coordination with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration for refugee resettlement in third countries. For those obtaining refugee status, the government was committed to their local integration both legally and socially and to facilitating their naturalization process.Temporary Protection: On March 1, a migration category created by executive decree in December 2022 went into effect for Nicaraguan, Venezuelan, and Cuban individuals who might not qualify for or had been denied refugee status.																																				f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)										Not applicable.																																				g. Stateless Persons										There were problems of statelessness of indigenous children and children of seasonal workers in the border areas with Panama and Nicaragua, derived from the difficulties linked to completing birth registrations. Members of the Ngobe-Bugle indigenous group from Panama often worked on Costa Rican farms and occasionally gave birth there. In these cases, parents did not register Ngobe-Bugle children as citizens at birth because they did not think it necessary, although the children lacked registration in Panama as well. Government authorities worked with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration on a program of birth registration and provision of identification documents to stateless persons in both border areas.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The law provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: National elections were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.Participation of Women and Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: The Supreme Electoral Tribunal partially upheld petitions for constitutional protection that five women deputy mayors filed against mayors, after verifying violations of their political rights and placement of obstacles to their duties. On February 8, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court issued a ruling that required political parties to put forward an equal number of men and women candidates in leading positions on their municipal election party tickets to encourage gender parity in 2024 municipal elections.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year. The presence and influence of transnational criminal organizations raised concerns regarding corruption within the judicial system, security services, municipal governments, and the broader public sphere.Corruption: On June 30, the assistant attorney general for anti-corruption accused former President Luis Guillermo Solís (2014-18) and four members of his administration of involvement in a 2017 transfer of government funds to a state-owned bank to intervene and misrepresent the financial liquidity of the bank to benefit the political perception of the administration at that time.On August 17, the attorney general searched the premises of a law firm of which the minister of foreign affairs was previously the managing partner, as part of an investigation related to an alleged parallel financing structure for the Social Democratic Progress Party’s 2022 election campaign.For additional information regarding corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country, and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Strategy Control Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						Several domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. Government officials were often cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies: The Ombudsperson’s Office reviewed government action or inaction that affected citizens’ rights and interests. The ombudsperson was accountable to the National Assembly, which appointed the ombudsperson to a four-year term and funded office operations. The ombudsperson participated in the drafting and approval of legislation, promoted better public sector management and transparency, and reported annually to the National Assembly with nonbinding recommendations. International institutions and nongovernmental organization observers recognized the Ombudsperson’s Office as an independent and effective instrument for promoting human rights.A special committee of the National Assembly studied and reported on problems relating to the violation of human rights and reviewed bills relating to human rights and international humanitarian law.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalized rape of men or women, including spousal and domestic or intimate partner rape and other forms of domestic and sexual violence, as well as so-called corrective rape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons. The law provided penalties from 10 to 18 years in prison for conviction of rape. The government generally enforced the law effectively. Observers noted corrective rape cases frequently were not reported.The law prohibited domestic violence and provided measures for the protection of domestic violence survivors. Criminal penalties for conviction ranged from 10 to 100 days in prison for aggravated threats and up to 35 years in prison for aggravated homicide, including sentences of 20 to 35 years for persons who killed their partners. The government enforced the law effectively.Violence against women and girls was a serious problem. As of October, the government reported 15 women had been killed, including seven killed by a partner or spouse. The government continued to implement its National Strategy to Combat Sexual Harassment and Harassment against Women (referred to as the “Ruta de Genero”) to counter sexual harassment and discrimination against women through measures such as the creation of dedicated safe spaces and an expanded network of government facilities called “puntos violeta” where women could register complaints and receive legal advice and psychological support. On October 12, during a presentation on the status of the strategy, the vice president noted public transportation as a particular area of concern for sexual harassment and assault against women.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment: The law prohibited sexual harassment in the workplace and educational institutions, and the government enforced the law effectively. The law imposed penalties ranging from a letter of reprimand to dismissal, with more serious incidents subject to criminal prosecution.Discrimination: The law provided the same legal status and rights for women as for men, and those laws were generally respected. The government enforced the law effectively. Women earned an average of 10 percent less than men in similar roles.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.According to human rights experts, problems related to access to reproductive health services remained for lesbian and bisexual, indigenous, and Afrodescendant women, and women with disabilities. There were reports members of Indigenous communities might not have fully understood, and therefore did not have an opportunity for fully informed consent for birth control methods provided to them, due to lack of interpreters (community assistants) to provide contraceptive counseling and information regarding family planning.The government provided access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence, and emergency contraception was available as part of clinical management of rape.Some social barriers adversely affected access to skilled health-care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. Women in rural areas and indigenous women did not always have access to health care during childbirth, and some had difficulty accessing prenatal care, due to geographic isolation and language barriers with providers. Government regulations stated all pregnant women, including undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, had the right to health services. Nevertheless, refugees and asylum seekers reported access to health services and reproductive health management services was difficult. Refugee and migrant advocates stated this population qualified for public health services only if they were children, visibly pregnant, or facing a life-threatening emergency, but some individuals reported being denied services even in emergency situations.There was access to emergency health care, including services for the management of complications arising from abortion.The government provided some access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence. Human rights experts identified problems such as revictimization and limited access to antiretroviral therapy. There was limited access to emergency contraceptives as part of the clinical management of rape.The Indigenous territory of Talamanca was one of the poorest cantons in the country. The birth rate of girls and adolescents in the Talamanca region was 19.7 births per 1,000 in 2021, compared with the national rate of 10.2 per 1,000 in 2022. This disparity was likely linked to the lower educational and socio-economic levels in the community.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution established that the country was a multiethnic and multicultural nation. The government enforced the laws effectively. Laws prohibited discrimination at work, punished racism in sporting events, and established affirmative actions in favor of Afrodescendants. The government had a presidential commissioner for social inclusion for matters related to disability, the rights of Afrodescendants, Indigenous individuals, and the LGBTQI+ community.In February, parents of an Afrodescendant student in Aserri filed a complaint against the Ministry of Public Education for alleged discrimination related to the student’s hairstyle. The Ministry of Public Education opened an investigation into the incident following the complaint. In September, local UN offices, executive branch officials, and the ombudsperson condemned alleged racism directed by fans toward an Afrodescendant soccer player during a game. The Costa Rican Football Federation fined the sports club in question for the alleged actions.The United Nations expressed concern regarding the increase in xenophobic messages, as well as messages directed against women and LGBTQI+ populations.																																				Indigenous Peoples										There were reports of violence against Indigenous persons related to land ownership in Indigenous territories. The law protected reserve land as the collective, nontransferable property in 24 Indigenous territories; however, between 38 percent and 97 percent of that land was in non-Indigenous hands, depending on the territory. Indigenous lands were not effectively demarcated, and there was an overlap between Indigenous lands and national parks. On February 17, in an effort to comply with the 1977 Indigenous law obligating the return of Indigenous land, the president announced a budget assigned to the National Commission for Indigenous Affairs to compensate non-Indigenous owners who could demonstrate they acquired their land in good faith prior to passage of the 1977 law for land located in the 24 Indigenous territories. Indigenous representatives characterized the funds as insufficient to cover expected costs associated with anticipated land purchases. On December 20, the Ministry of Justice and Peace announced a payment of 364 million colones ($700,000) to a good faith owner to facilitate the transfer of land to the Indigenous Comprehensive Development Association in the Indigenous territory of Conte Burica.Indigenous communities continued to experience discrimination impeding equal access to public services and institutionalized racism in schools, the health-care system, and in various workplace sectors. Indigenous representatives reported education centers that served Indigenous communities had a higher child-to-teacher ratio and less funding for food and education supplies compared with education centers outside of Indigenous communities. Lack of interpretation in Indigenous languages limited access to public services. Indigenous leaders reported a lack of effective consultation mechanisms from government authorities on policy matters affecting their lands, cultures, and traditions, despite legal requirements to provide Indigenous communities access to free, prior, and informed consent regarding policies impacting their communities.On July 17, the Cartago Criminal Court of Appeals ordered the release of a suspect who in February was sentenced to 22 years in prison for conviction of murdering Bröran People of Terraba Indigenous land activist Jehry Rivera Rivera in 2020. In August 2022, the suspect confessed in a public event his role in the killing of the Indigenous leader. Indigenous rights advocates declared the appeals court’s decision was a setback for the rights of the country’s Indigenous peoples and furthered an atmosphere of impunity for crimes committed against Indigenous persons.																																				Children										Birth Registration: Migrant children were at risk of statelessness because they did not have access to legal documents to establish their identity if their parents did not register their births.Child Abuse: There were laws against child abuse, and the government enforced the laws effectively.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage was 18, and child marriage was prohibited. The government effectively enforced the law.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law criminalized the sale, grooming, or use of children for commercial sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, and provided sentences of up to 16 years in prison for conviction. The law provided for sentences of two to 10 years in prison for conviction of statutory rape and three to eight years in prison for conviction of child pornography. The law established penalties for conviction of sex with children of up to three years in prison for an adult having sex with a person younger than age 15 or younger than 18 if the age difference was more than five years. The law established a statute of limitations of 25 years for sexual crimes against children. Authorities enforced these laws. The minimum age of consensual sex was 18 years. The country was a destination for child sex tourism.																																				Antisemitism										The Jewish Zionist Center estimated there were between 3,000 and 3,500 Jewish persons in the country. There were isolated reports of antisemitic comments on social media.For further information on incidents in the country of antisemitism, whether or not those incidents were motivated by religion, and for reporting on the ability of Jews to exercise freedom of religion or belief, please see the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: There were no laws that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, cross-dressing, or other sexual or gender characteristic-related behavior. There were no apparently neutral laws disproportionately applied to LGBTQI+ persons.Violence and Harassment: There were no reports police or other government agents incited, perpetrated, condoned, or tolerated violence or harassment against LGBTQI+ individuals or those reporting such abuse. There were no reports of nonstate actor violence targeting LGBTQI+ persons. Judicial authorities did not disaggregate data on violence. LGBTQI+ rights activists reported instances of violence committed against trans women engaged in commercial sex.Discrimination: No law explicitly prohibited discrimination by state and nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, or recognized LGBTQI+ individuals, couples, and their families. Discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation and gender identity was prohibited by a series of executive orders and workplace policies but not by national laws. The government generally enforced such provisions. The law recognized LGBTQI+ couples and their families and granted them rights equal to rights of other persons.There were cases of discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation, including employment, police discrimination, and barriers to accessing education and health-care services. LGBTQI+ individuals experienced discrimination within their families due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. LGBTQI+ rights activists reported an instance of a transgender individual who filed a complaint in a local school against a teacher who used a male pronoun to identify the student. A transgender woman filed a complaint before the Ministry of Labor alleging her workplace did not allow her to use the bathroom that corresponded with her gender.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: Legal gender recognition was available. Individual self-identification was sufficient for obtaining such recognition. The government allowed individuals to change their gender identity marker on legal documents to bring them into alignment with their gender identity; however, the birth registration did not change. Nonbinary persons could register as gender “X” on their passports.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: There were no reports this year of the practice of so-called conversion therapy and the practice of performing medically unnecessary and irreversible surgeries on children or on nonconsenting adult intersex persons. The association of psychologists publicly warned of the risks of conversion therapy and stated its opposition to the practice. Efforts were continuing in the National Assembly to reform the health code to effectively ban conversion therapy in the country; the proposed bill divided legislators.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions against freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law prohibited discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities. The law established that persons with disabilities could access education, employment, health services, public buildings, and transportation on an equal basis with others. The law also established a right to employment for persons with disabilities and set a hiring quota of 5 percent of vacant positions in the public sector. The government did not enforce the law effectively.Although the law mandated access to buildings for persons with disabilities, the government did not enforce this provision, and many sidewalks and buildings remained inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities continued to confront discrimination in the labor market and health-care services. Reports indicated public education programs did not provide equal access in alignment with legal requirements.Institutionalized Children: On June 14, the Judicial Investigative Police searched a child-care center in Coronado managed by a nongovernmental organization for alleged mistreatment of children. Authorities opened a criminal investigation against the organization. The Child Welfare Agency transferred 42 children to another facility.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										Although the law prohibited discrimination based on HIV and AIDS regarding health care, housing, employment, and education, some discrimination was reported.Labor discrimination towards HIV patients continued. Although the problem was not widespread, some persons reported losing their jobs due to discrimination, their deteriorating health, or both. The government took steps to combat discrimination based on HIV or AIDS status, as part of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS (2021-26).																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes, with restrictions. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and provided for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Unions were required to register, and the law provided a deadline of 15 days for authorities to reply to a registration request. Unions were also required to register their collective bargaining agreements, with a double approval system from both the Policy Commission for the Negotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreements and the Ministry of Labor. The law permitted foreign workers to join unions but prohibited them from holding positions of authority within the unions, except for foreign workers who were married to citizens of the country and had legally resided in the country for at least five years.The labor code stipulated that at least 50 percent of the workers in an enterprise were required to vote to support a strike. The law, however, added that even if there was no union at the enterprise or if the union lacked the support of 50 percent of the workforce, a strike could be initiated if 35 percent of the workers called for a vote by secret ballot. The law restricted the right to strike for workers in sectors such as oil refineries and ports that were not recognized as essential services under international standards. The law regulated strikes, including a prohibition on strikes by workers in nine essential public services, and allowed employers to suspend the pay of essential public-service workers who were on strike.The law also permitted two other types of worker organizations: the first was “solidarity associations,” legal entities recognized by the constitution that had both management and employee membership and served primarily to administer funds for severance payments; the law prohibited solidarity organizations from representing workers in collective bargaining or strikes. The second was “permanent committees,” enterprise-level bodies made up of three workers elected by secret ballot to negotiate “direct agreements” with employers but without recourse to a legal strike in the event negotiations were unsatisfactory to workers. Labor groups criticize these two parallel worker groups as undermining workers’ right to organize. The law required employers to initiate the bargaining process with a trade union if more than one-third of the total workforce, including union and nonunion members, requested collective bargaining, but the law also permitted direct bargaining agreements with nonunionized workers. The law established a scope of implementation and procedures for negotiations.Although public-sector employees were 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. Labor unions asserted restrictions on public-sector salaries through measures such as the 2022 Public Employment law violated the right to collectively bargain compensation. In March, the law came into force. A court’s decision ratified the ceiling of 12 years for severance pay when an employee was terminated.The government sometimes effectively enforced applicable laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike of workers. Delays to ratify collective bargaining agreements limited effective enforcement. Penalties were commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of individual rights, such as discrimination. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. While the law established sanctions (fines and fees) for infractions, only the judiciary had the authority to apply such sanctions. Fines and fees were determined by the severity of the infraction and were based on the minimum wage. The law required labor claims to be processed within two years and set up a special summary procedure for discrimination claims. The law also provided labor union members protections against discrimination based on labor affiliation and special protections via special expedited proceedings. The last time the Labor Appeal Court acted related to union activity was in 2022.Freedom of association and collective bargaining were sometimes respected but weakened by solidarismo (solidarity) and worker committees and other legal constraints. Labor unions asserted the government sometimes delayed timely registration of collective bargaining agreements up to a year or more. Labor unions asserted employers sometimes required membership in a solidarity association as a condition for employment. Labor unions also asserted solidarity associations set up and controlled permanent committees at many workplaces, which in turn conducted negotiations and established direct agreements, thus displacing trade unions. To the extent solidarity associations and permanent committees displaced trade unions, they affected the independence of workers’ organizations from employers’ influence and infringed on the right to organize and bargain collectively. In recent years, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported an expansion of direct agreements between employers and nonunionized workers and noted its concern that the number of collective bargaining agreements in the private sector continued to be low when compared with a high number of direct agreements with nonunionized workers.In some instances, employers fired employees who attempted to unionize. From January to June, the Ministry of Labor reported 28 allegations of antiunion discrimination, including 14 cases of labor union harassment and 14 cases of dismissal of labor leader. There were reports some employers preferred “flexible,” or short-term, contracts, making it difficult for workers to organize and collectively bargain. Migrant workers in agriculture frequently were hired on short-term contracts through intermediaries (outsourcing), faced antiunion discrimination and problems in organizing and were often more vulnerable to labor exploitation. Although migrant workers outside the agriculture sector were able to unionize, they were not able to participate as board members.The ILO noted no trade unions operated in the country’s export-processing zones and identified the zones as a hostile environment for organizing. Labor unions asserted efforts by workers in export-processing zones to organize were met with illegal employment termination, threats, and intimidation and some employers maintained blacklists of workers identified as activists.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/ .																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The law provided for minimum wage for all sectors. The wage council of the Ministry of Labor set the minimum wage scale for the public and private sectors twice a year. Monthly minimum wages were above the official poverty line, although some observers asserted the monthly minimum wage was insufficient to meet basic needs. The national minimum wage applied to all workers. The law set workday hours, overtime remuneration, days of rest, and annual vacation rights. Workers were entitled to one day of rest after six consecutive days of work and annual paid vacations, except in the agricultural sector. The law provided for workers to be paid for overtime work at a rate 50 percent above their stipulated wage or salary. Although there was no statutory prohibition against compulsory overtime, the labor code stipulated the workday could not exceed 12 hours and the work week could not exceed 48 hours, except in the agricultural sector when there was “imminent risk of harm...to the harvest” when work could not be suspended and workers could not be substituted.Occupational Safety and Health: The Ministry of Labor National Council of Occupational Health and Safety was a tripartite occupational safety and health standards (OSH) regulatory authority with government, employer, and employee representation. OSH standards were appropriate for the main industries in the country, and OSH experts actively identified unsafe conditions, in addition to responding to workers’ complaints.The responsibility for identifying unsafe situations remained with Ministry of Labor OSH experts and not the worker. Workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardizing their employment. According to the Ministry of Labor, this was a responsibility shared by the employer and employee. The law assigned responsibility to the employer, including granting OSH officers access to workplaces, but it also authorized workers to seek assistance from appropriate authorities (OSH or labor inspectors) for noncompliance with OSH workplace standards, including risks at work. The responsibility for occupational accidents and diseases fell on the insurance policy of the employer.There were reports agricultural workers, particularly migrant laborers in the pineapple industry, worked in unsafe conditions, including exposure to hazardous chemicals without proper training.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government effectively enforced minimum wage and overtime laws mainly in the urban and formal sector. Penalties were commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud or negligence. Penalties were regularly applied against violators. The Ministry of Labor generally enforced minimum wages, overtime, and OSH laws effectively in the San Jose area but less effectively in rural areas, particularly where large numbers of migrants were employed, and in the large informal sector. The ministry publicly recognized that many workers, including in the formal sector, received less than the minimum wage, mainly in the agricultural sector.The Ministry of Labor’s Inspection Directorate was responsible for labor inspection, in collaboration with the Social Security Agency and the National Insurance Institute. The directorate employed labor inspectors, who investigated all types of labor violations. The number of labor inspectors was insufficient to enforce compliance. According to the Ministry of Labor, inspections occurred both in response to complaints and at the initiative of inspectors. The directorate stated it could visit any employer, formal or informal, and inspections were always unannounced. Observers indicated instances where inspectors informed employers prior to conducting an anticipated inspection.The Ministry of Labor generally addressed complaints by sending inspection teams to investigate and coordinate follow-up actions. As with other labor laws, inspectors could not fine or sanction employers who did not comply with laws on acceptable conditions of work; rather, they investigated and referred noncompliance results to labor courts. The process of fining companies or compelling employers to pay back wages or overtime was habitually subject to lengthy delays.Observers expressed concern regarding exploitative working conditions in fisheries, small businesses, and agricultural activities. Unions also reported systematic violations of labor rights and provisions concerning working conditions, overtime, and wages in the export-processing zones. Labor unions reported overtime pay violations, such as nonpayment of wages and mandatory overtime, were common in the private sector and particularly in export-processing zones and agriculture. Observers expressed concerns the pineapple industry generally established long working hours for employees, in which there were constant exposures to chemicals; additionally, adequate measures were not taken to protect workers and inform them of the consequences of the use of pesticides.Approximately 39 percent of the workforce operated in the informal economy, according to government estimates. The government generally did not enforce labor laws in the informal sector.																																				    							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Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Costa Rica
- Joint Statement on Enhancing Digital Economy Cooperation Between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica Office of the SpokespersonThe text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica on the occasion of the Regional 5G Network Workshop.Begin TextIn alignment with our shared values and in response to the evolving digital landscape, the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica announce a strategic commitment to foster open, interoperable, reliable, and secure digital infrastructure in Costa Rica.  This is highlighted by our collaboration at the Regional 5G Network Workshop, organized by the United States in San Jose, Costa Rica.Affirming the foundational principles outlined in the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunication Supplier Diversity, our dialogues focus on enhancing digital connectivity, ensuring cybersecurity, and supporting innovation across our digital economies.  Discussions have spanned crucial areas including the promotion of secure 5G and future 6G wireless technologies, development of the digital economy through public-private partnerships, and international cooperation on digital issues.Both nations emphasize the necessity of developing secure, resilient, and open 5G networks globally, recognizing their significance in upholding trust within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem, as well as their value for protecting privacy, intellectual property, and human rights.Our collaborative efforts are directed toward promoting the multistakeholder system for internet governance and incorporating broad participation.To further collaboration, the United States and Costa Rica intend to engage in the following initiatives:Telecommunications Supplier Diversity:  Based on the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity, we aim to enhance telecommunications supplier diversity in Latin America. This involves exploring Open RAN-based approaches to 4G/5G through technical support, feasibility studies, and fostering telecommunications innovation.Research and Development:  Focusing on 5G and 6G technologies, we seek to advance research and development on open and interoperable network architectures, thereby stimulating technological progress and innovation.Cybersecurity:  We seek to share resources and best practices to assist in maintaining robust public and private digital infrastructure as well as to develop the cybersecurity workforce.Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance:  We seek to develop a governance framework for AI that champions democratic values, human rights, and maintains a competitive, innovation-friendly ecosystem, and respects intellectual property rights, including copyrights.Cloud Infrastructure:  We intend to share best practices to maintain robust cloud infrastructure, enhance cooperation on research and development, and promote industry growth in both nations.Unlicensed Spectrum Use:  We intend to advocate for the unlicensed use of the 6GHz band to support wireless connectivity and innovation, especially in Latin America.This statement serves as a testament to the burgeoning partnership between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica, and a strategic alignment with and affirmation of the visionary principles encapsulated within the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity.  It represents a pivotal milestone to harness the transformative power of digital technology for the enhancement of economic vitality, the fortification of security frameworks, and the overall betterment of our societies, grounded in the esteemed values and objectives shared by our countries.End Text
- Ambassador Fick’s Travel to Costa Rica Office of the Spokesperson													HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Ambassador Fick’s Travel to Costa Rica				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Ambassador Fick’s Travel to Costa Rica																																		Media Note																														April 9, 2024																																							U.S. Ambassador at Large for the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick will travel to San Jose, Costa Rica April 9-12. Ambassador Fick will attend the Regional 5G Workshop, a two-day event to share best practices in trusted technology, supply chains, and secure telecommunications.Ambassador Fick will speak about technology ecosystem security. He will also participate in bilateral meetings with Costa Rican government officials, including President Rodrigo Chaves, and with technology leaders from participating countries.5G, the fifth generation of wireless technology, is paving the way for new capabilities, including supporting connectivity for applications like smart cities, autonomous vehicles, remote healthcare, and other mutual priority areas. With increased connectivity comes increased risks and the Regional 5G Workshop is an opportunity to reinforce regional cooperation, and for participants to learn about financing, partnership, and development opportunities. For further information, please contact CDP-Press@state.gov.						Tags																					Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Costa Rica																																														Cyber Issues																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel
- Special Representative McAuliffe Travels to Colombia and Costa Rica for the Launch of Three Climate Entrepreneurship Hubs Office of the SpokespersonSpecial Representative for Global Partnerships Dorothy McAuliffe will travel to Bogotá, Colombia and San José, Costa Rica on April 3-4, to launch three Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship (CCE) Hubs in Latin America. The launches follow the announcement of a Hub in Guatemala by Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment Jose W. Fernandez during a visit to Guatemala on March 18.This expansion of the CCE network in Latin America was made possible by implementing partners PVBLIC Foundation and CleantechHUB, as well as university partners in-country that will host these makerspaces on-campus:In Bogotá – Universidad Externado de ColombiaIn San José – Universidad LCI VeritasIn Guatemala City – Universidad Rafael LandívarCCE is a public-private partnership that aims to address the climate crisis and contribute to economic empowerment by nurturing entrepreneurship focused on climate solutions. Over two years, the Hubs will drive climate entrepreneurship, create green jobs, and contribute to a zero-carbon sustainable and inclusive future.The three CCE Hubs in Latin America aim to engage 1,000 relevant actors, involve 450 students in presenting green ideas, train 100 startup teams, and mentor 40-60 educators. Special emphasis will be placed on increasing the representation of underserved groups, including women, African-descendant populations, and indigenous peoples, in climate entrepreneurship.For more information, visit the CCE webpage: https://www.state.gov/coalition-for-climate-entrepreneurship-cce/ , and to stay up to date, follow along on social media @GPatState on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Any questions or media inquiries can be directed to: partnerships@state.gov
- Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas Advances Through a Second Annual High-level Meeting in the Dominican Republic Office of the SpokespersonOn March 10, 2024, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, kicked off the Second Annual High-Level Meetings of the Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA) alongside PAHO Deputy Director Mary Lou Valdez, Department of Commerce Deputy Under Secretary Diane Farrell, Executive Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Mr. Jordan Schwartz, and Minister of Health for the Dominican Republic Víctor Atallah at the welcoming reception. Official government meetings were held the next day on March 11, where ministers and vice ministers from 17 countries across ministries of finance, economy, health, foreign affairs and social development were in attendance.Several countries were represented by ministries of health, as well as ministries of finance, economy, foreign affairs, and commerce given the whole-of-government approach the EHA takes through multisectoral workstreams. EHA co-chairs, the United States and Panama, made remarks at the event along with the country host of the meeting, the Dominican Republic. EHA members focused discussions on smart spending, prioritization of health-sector transformation, responsive social protections, technology and health, workforce development, and foundations of resilient supply chains.EHA co-lead countries Brazil, Paraguay, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and the United States affirmed leadership roles for 2024, and members approved the workplan for the coming year. Several USG agencies were in attendance, including USAID, CDC, USTDA and Commerce. USAID and the Department of State made several announcements along with several EHA members. For more information on those announcements please see the fact sheet: https://www.state.gov/economic-and-health-dialogue-of-the-americas-high-level-meeting-outcomes-for-2024/.Learn more about the EHA on the main webpage: https://www.iadb.org/en/home/economic-and-health-dialogue-americas .To stay up to date, follow Under Secretary Fernandez on X: @State_E, LinkedIn: @State-E, and Facebook: @StateDeptE.For further media information, please contact E_Communications@state.gov.
- Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas High-level Meeting Outcomes for 2024 Office of the SpokespersonThe Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA) was launched on the margins of the 9th Summit of the Americas in June 2022 by the U.S. Department of State. In 2023, the EHA held its first high-level meeting to establish the governance structure and approve scope of work. Since then, countries have organized 11 technical meetings and a first in person encounter in Uruguay at the end of 2023.On the 11th of March of 2024, the 2nd annual high-level meeting of the EHA was held in the Dominican Republic with representation from 17 countries. Ministers and Vice Ministers from health, finance, economy, foreign affairs, and commerce agencies participated to include Ministerial-level participation from of the United States, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Mexico, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Guyana, Guatemala, Suriname, Panama, Colombia, and Paraguay, in addition to high-level representatives from Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador. In addition to government representatives, leadership from regional technical organizations participated, including IDB Executive Vice President Jordan Schwartz and PAHO Deputy Director Mary Lou Valdez. Representatives from ECLAC, USAID, USTDA, U.S. Department of Commerce, and CDC were also in attendance.What were the main agreements and outcomes of the 2nd Annual EHA High-Level Meeting in the Dominican Republic?Countries reaffirmed EHA’s commitment to strengthen health systems and economic resilience to emergencies in the region. Paraguay, Uruguay, Bahamas, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and Chile affirmed their commitment to co-lead EHA technical working groups. Panama was praised for their leadership as co-chair of EHA along with United States.PAHO announced the launch of their Public Finance Management tool. The tool will enable countries to conduct analysis of fiscal space for the health sector to support responsible spending as well as sustainable and equitable public health financing. PAHO has committed to the goal of two countries applying the tool in 2024-2025. Several countries expressed interest at the meeting. The work supports the “Smart Spending” workstream.PAHO committed to use the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) assessments from 14 countries to produce a policy document that would establish shared priorities and identify institutional capacity gaps across the region that will require future investment to fill, with a sub-regional focus on Caribbean countries. This work will support the workstream on Prioritization of Health Sector Transformation, which is led by the Bahamas. The Bahamas announced the completion of their EPHF assessment at the meeting.Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Chile committed to apply the IDB’s Maturity Assessment Tool (MAT) to measure the capacity of social protection systems to respond to emergencies. Countries like Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay outlined some of the best practices around social protection during COVID-19, as well as lessons learned from other sectors and emergency response scenarios. The goal for 2024 will be to explore potential regional agreements to coordinate increased preparedness and responsiveness to future crises in the region. This work supports workstream on Responsive Social Protection.EHA countries announced commitment to conduct a pharmaceutical mapping exercise and prepare a regional strategy for nearshoring of critical inputs and consumables. EHA members short-listed mRNA vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and antimicrobials, including for malaria and tuberculosis, as priority products for the 2024-2025 analysis. The United States committed to support this analysis in coordination with co-leads Argentina and Peru. Argentina affirmed their commitment to conduct a regional Private-Public Partnership analysis. This work supports the Resilient Supply Chain workstream.USAID shared progress on the Americas Health Corps initiative, announcing the training of 120,000 healthcare workers in the region thus far.USAID also announced funding for a market analysis of the current capacity within the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region to produce or manufacture vaccine countermeasures for emerging threats, endemic diseases, and local priorities relevant to the regional market. The EHA platform committed to supporting the implementation of recommendations from the analysis.EHA members approved the work plan for 2024-2025 and committed to a mid-year high-level meeting to review progress.EHA members recognized the importance of digital health and utilization of technology in the public health system and proposed establishing a new EHA workstream on technology and health. The EHA Executive Technical Working Group will develop a scope of work for this proposed workstream with the goal of launching it in 2024.For further information, please contact E_Commmunications@state.gov, or visit the EHA website: https://www.iadb.org/en/home/economic-and-health-dialogue-americas .
- Under Secretary Fernandez’s Travel to the Dominican Republic Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, March 10-12, to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen strategic partnerships to advance more sustainable and resilient global supply chains and foster preparedness for future pandemics in the Western Hemisphere.The Under Secretary will co-host the second high-level meeting of the Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA). The EHA is a regional, multilateral initiative that encourages governments to strengthen health systems and protect economies by assessing gaps in their public health sector, sharing best practices and tools to support sustainable and effective health financing, and build resilience into health supply chains. The meeting will convene ministers and vice ministers from the ministries of health, finance, economy, and foreign affairs across 19countries.  EHA members will be announcing commitments around health systems strengthening and supply chains.During the visit, he will also participate in the U.S.-Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD) Joint Consultative Dialogue on Supply Chains between the United States, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Panama. The dialogue will advance our countries’ work together to strengthen supply chain resiliency in the health sector and deliver concrete action items for implementation.The Under Secretary intends to meet with senior leadership from the Dominican Republic to deepen economic cooperation, advance the Dominican Republic’s leadership in the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, and promote the Dominican Republic’s role in critical supply chains, including medical products, semiconductors, and apparel. He also plans to engage with private sector leaders to learn about opportunities and challenges for U.S. companies.To stay up to date, follow Under Secretary Fernandez on X: @State_E , LinkedIn: @State-E , and Facebook: @StateDeptE .For further media information, please contact E_Communications@state.gov.
- U.S. Department of State Announces 2024 Spring Season of Next Level Office of the SpokespersonThe U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the 10th anniversary season of the Next Level international exchange program is underway.  A key part of the United States’ Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, Next Level sends American aerosol artists, beatboxers, beatmakers, dancers, DJs, and MCs to engage audiences globally through hip hop with an aim to promote peace and democracy namely through conflict resolution in communities around the globe.The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, launched by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in September 2023, aims to promote peace and democracy through music, and supports broader U.S. foreign policy goals to expand access to education, economic opportunity and equity, and societal inclusion.With the 2024 season already underway including workshops for underserved youth in Costa Rica, Olympic-focused programming in France, and a 10th anniversary event in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, American artists will teach and perform in nearly every region of the world during this spring season.  Next Level is implemented through a cooperative agreement with Meridian International Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.The 2024 Next Level spring season includes:Limón, Costa RicaDance: Kara Jenelle (Los Angeles, CA)MC: Queena Bergen (New Brunswick, NJ)Beatmaker: Rokmore (Houston, TX)Beatboxer: Exacto (New York, NY)Paris, FranceDance: Ken Fury (New York, NY)MC: Def-i (Albuquerque, NM)DJ: Amore Querida (New York, NY)Aerosol: Danielle Mastrion (New York, NY)Taoyuan, TaiwanDance: Dez (Washington, DC)MC: Rah Digga (Newark, NJ)DJ: Rugged One (Somerville, MA)Aerosol: Jurne (Oakland, CA)Bulawayo, ZimbabweDance: Lady Beast (Boston, MA)MC: Dee-1 (Boston, MA)DJ: Nick Neutronz (New York, NY)Beatmaker: Krithi (New York, NY)Auckland, New ZealandDancer: Lady Sol (Chicago, IL)MC: Dior Brown (Washington, DC)Beatmaker: SlopFunkDust (Tampa, FL)Aerosol: MAST (San Francisco, CA)For more information on the United States’ global efforts to promote peace and democracy through music, contact eca-press@state.gov.
- Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Toloui to Travel to Costa Rica for Americas Partnership Semiconductor Workforce Symposium Office of the SpokespersonAssistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Ramin Toloui will travel to Costa Rica January 25-26 to launch the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Semiconductor Workforce Symposium and participate in related meetings and events.  His visit will advance commitments made during the November 2023 Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit.  At the symposium, Assistant Secretary Toloui will affirm the U.S. commitment to working with government and private sector partners in the hemisphere to strengthen and diversify the global semiconductor supply chain and workforce.Assistant Secretary Toloui will provide the keynote address at the symposium and conduct bilateral meetings with Costa Rican counterparts and Americas Partnership members.  He will meet with private sector leaders in the semiconductor and tech industries and experts from the education and training sector to discuss strategies to expand and diversify the semiconductor supply chain and strengthen the sector’s workforce in the hemisphere.The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Semiconductor Workforce Symposium will create opportunities for member countries to explore collaborative ways to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain, including through developing workforce capacity.  Through the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, part of the CHIPS Act of 2022, the Department of State is promoting the development and adoption of secure and trustworthy telecommunications networks.  ITSI also helps ensure semiconductor supply chain security and diversification through new programs and initiatives with allies and partners.For further information, please contact the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Media Team at EB-Press-Inquiry@state.gov.
- Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Dodd’s Travel to Belize and Costa Rica Office of the SpokespersonSpecial Presidential Advisor (SPA) for the Americas Christopher J. Dodd will travel to Belize and Costa Rica January 17-20. In Belize, SPA Dodd will meet with Prime Minister Briceño, Foreign Minister Fonseca, and members of the business community. In Costa Rica, SPA Dodd will meet with President Chaves and members of his cabinet, members of the National Assembly, and private sector leaders. SPA Dodd will follow up on commitments President Biden made at the inaugural Leaders’ Summit of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity and look ahead to the 2025 Summit in Costa Rica. These visits underscore the United States pledge to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, defend democratic governance and the rule of law, and strengthen security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.