Announcement

Concern about the regression of sexual and reproductive rights in Costa Rica and their alignment with regional restrictions

RIDHE's Emergency Education program shares his memories that unfold a tapestry of stories, dreams and struggles.

Human Rights International Europe (RIDHE) — Costa Rica expresses its deep concern at the regression in the guarantee of sexual and reproductive rights in the country.

The recent decisions of the Costa Rican State, including the elimination of the Education Program for Affectivity and Integral Sexuality in schools, as well as the promotion of a legislative initiative that seeks to tighten sanctions for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, represent a serious setback in the protection of the rights of women and girls.

These restrictions are part of an alarming regional trend that undermines gender equality and access to health.

‍The elimination of the Education Program for Affectivity and Integral Sexuality in schools, the elimination of the Education Program for Affectivity and Integral Sexuality in schools contravene Costa Rica's international obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), whose article 13 establishes the right to inclusive and quality education. In addition, General Comment No. 22 of the DESC Committee and General Recommendation No. 36 of CEDAW highlight the state's obligation to guarantee access to comprehensive sex education as an essential component for gender equality and the prevention of violence.
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On the other hand, we warn about the legislative initiative that seeks to modify the Criminal Code, eliminating the possibility of Judicial pardon in cases of abortion resulting from sexual violence or when the honor of the pregnant person is at stake.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in the case Artavia Murillo et al. v. Costa Rica, established that disproportionate restrictions on reproductive rights may constitute a violation of the right to privacy and reproductive autonomy, protected by the American Convention on Human Rights.

We reaffirm that these provisions deepen gender inequality and reinforce stereotyped roles as a form of structural discrimination, in a context of alarming increase in Femicides in the country. The combination of the weakening of comprehensive sex-affective education and the more severe penalties for voluntary termination of pregnancy increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, disproportionately affecting women and girls in vulnerable situations.

We also show that in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, the absolute prohibition of voluntary interruption of pregnancy continues to seriously violate the rights of women and girls. These countries reflect a regional context of criminalization and stigmatization that restricts access to health and limits reproductive autonomy. Costa Rica is part of this worrying trend with measures that reduce access to comprehensive sex education and reinforce the criminalization of voluntary interruption of pregnancy, further restricting reproductive rights.
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Faced with this situation, the RIDHE makes an urgent appeal to the Costa Rican State to:

1. Restore comprehensive sex-affective education in schools, ensuring that girls and adolescents have information based on science and respect for human rights, with a gender and intersectionality perspective.

2. Withdraw the punitive proposals on voluntary termination of pregnancy and adopt a public health approach that respects the autonomy of women and girls, their right to honor and dignity, and the opportunity to plan a desired, safe and violence-free motherhood.

We urge the international community to continue promoting the defense of the rights of women and girls in Costa Rica and in the rest of the region.