Delivered as a joint statement with DCI-Costa Rica, the Working Group on Violence, and COSECODENI and UNIPRIN Coalitions at the General Debate on Item 6: Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
On 25 March 2025, Defence for Children International delivered a joint statement on behalf of DCI-Costa Rica, the Working Group on Violence and the COSECODENI and UNIPRIN coalitions during the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The statement addresses the outcome of the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). We express our concern about the twelve non-adopted UPR recommendations that deteriorated living conditions, specifically for children and adolescents.
We encourage the implementation of the UPR recommendations to relieve child poverty, GBV/femicide and the juvenile penal system:
- In the last decade, Costa Rica has had the largest reduction in public investments which has negatively impacts vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. 34% of children, adolescents and young people in Costa Rica live in monetary poverty and struggle to receive proper education and opportunities to relieve this burden.
- Costa Rica currently has no preventative actions or effective responses to address the rampant violence, specifically Gender-Based Violence and femicides, occurring throughout the country. These targeted violent actions leave children and adolescents orphaned and increase rates of discrimination, xenophobia, racism and hate speech.
- Due to the collapse of the welfare state, defunding of schools, rising social violence and lack of available opportunities, there has been an increase in the number of criminal groups who recruit young minors. Additionally, the criminal responsibility of a child begins at age 12 in Costa Rica. These combined disasters have resulted in children as young as twelve facing criminal repression through violent state intervention. We urge Costa Rica to preventive and inter-institutional interdisciplinary and comprehensive care for children and adolescence. Children should be accompanied by a mentor or guardian throughout the juvenile criminal process to ensure their safety and promote the development of children.
We hope that Costa Rica will implement the UPR recommendations to help protect the development and safety of the child.
Read the statement in its entirety here (in English).