Costa Rica

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The Republic of Costa Rica borders Nicaragua and Panama. A former Spanish colony, Roman Catholicism is the state religion of Costa Rica. Lauded as one of the most stable democracies in the region, rule of law is generally upheld.¹“Costa Rica”, Britannica, accessed 10 December 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Costa-Rica; “Costa Rica” chapter in Freedom in the World 2024 (Freedom House, 2024), https://freedomhouse.org/country/costa-rica/freedom-world/2024 In recent years, the country has experienced a growth in its refugee population following the ongoing political crisis in neighbouring Nicaragua. As a result, it is estimated that Nicaraguans now account for some 7% of the population.²Valeria Lentini and Bruno Carayon, “Shining a spotlight on Nicaraguans’ poverty and wellbeing in Costa Rica”, UNHCR, 17 October 2024, https://www.unhcr.org/blogs/shining-a-spotlight-on-nicaraguans-poverty-and-wellbeing-in-costa-rica

A census conducted in 2022 estimated that the total population was a little over five million inhabitants.³“Principales cifras de la Estimación de Población y Vivienda 2022”, Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos, accessed 10 December 2024, https://inec.cr/estimaciones-poblacion-vivienda-2022 While the national census does not explore religious demographics, a study conducted by the University of Costa Rica and the Centre of Investigation and Political Studies (Centro de Investigación y Estudios Políticos – CIEPs) in 2021, estimated that 48% of the population are Roman Catholic, 20% belong to Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches, and 27% of the population are atheist, agnostic or without religion. Other religious groups representing the remaining 5% of the population included Jehovah’s Witnesses, “traditional” Protestants, Mormons, and Muslims.⁴Álvaro Murillo, “Encuesta CIEP-UCR evidencia una Costa Rica estatista y menos religiosa”, Semanario Universidad, 7 July 2021, https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/encuesta-ciep-ucr-evidencia-a-una-costa-rica-estatista-y-menos-religiosa/

The state is secular, with separation of religious and political authorities, not discriminating against any religion or belief

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Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Ukraine

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Kazakhstan

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Croatia, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

No formal discrimination in education

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Russia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States of America, Uruguay

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Angola, South Sudan, Tuvalu

Religious courts or tribunals rule directly on some family or ‘moral’ matters; it is legally an opt-in system, but the possibility of social coercion is very clear

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Countries: Comoros, Ethiopia, Gambia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Philippines, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom

No religious tribunals of concern, secular groups operate freely, individuals are not persecuted by the state

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, Venezuela

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, South Africa, South Sudan

No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values

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Countries: Bahamas, Belgium, Czech Republic, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, United States of America

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Lesotho, Uzbekistan

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Andorra

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Cyprus, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Lesotho

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

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This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand.

Countries: Albania, Botswana, Greece, Serbia, United States of America

The dominant influence of religion in public life undermines the right to equality and/or non-discrimination

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Applied when the influence of religion on public life undermines others’ rights, such as SRHR, women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights.

May be applied when the influence is overt (i.e. when religious laws are applied to undermine others’ rights) or covert (i.e. where religious pressure groups exert influence to affect policy)

Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Chile, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Zambia

Use of Conscientious Objection clauses resulting in the denial of lawful services to women and LGBTI+ people

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Countries: Armenia, Chile, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay

Complete tyranny precludes all freedoms of expression and thought, religion or belief

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Applied when overriding acts of oppression by the State are extreme, to the extent that the question of freedom of thought and expression is almost redundant, because all human rights and freedoms are quashed by authorities.

Countries: Afghanistan, North Korea

The non-religious are barred from some government offices (including posts reserved for particular religions or sects)

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Countries: Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Eritrea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is systematic religious privilege

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe

There is a nominal state church with few privileges or progress is being made toward disestablishment

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Countries: Bulgaria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda

Religious or ideological indoctrination is utterly pervasive in schools

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Countries: Afghanistan, Congo, Democratic Republic of, North Korea, Saudi Arabia

There is state funding of at least some religious schools

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Countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools offer religious or ideological instruction with no secular or humanist alternative, but it is optional

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Countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Kiribati, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Expression of non-religious views is severely persecuted, or is rendered almost impossible by severe social stigma, or is highly likely to be met with hatred or violence

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen

The non-religious are persecuted socially or there are prohibitive social taboos against atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Turkey

There is significant social marginalisation of the non-religious or stigma associated with expressing atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Bangladesh, Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Malaysia, Poland, Samoa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda

Expression of core Humanist principles on democracy, freedom and human rights is brutally repressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is severely restricted

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Countries: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is somewhat restricted

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Countries: Andorra, Armenia, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda

Some concerns about political or media freedoms, not specific to the non-religious

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zambia

Religious authorities have supreme authority over the state

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Countries: Iran

State legislation is partly derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates

Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general

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This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged.

Countries: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Official symbolic deference to religion

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Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of, Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe

Religious or ideological instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety

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This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem.

Countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Religious schools have powers to discriminate in admissions or employment

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools provide religious education which may be nominally comprehensive but is substantively biased or borderline confessional

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Countries: Djibouti, Finland, India, Laos, Latvia, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Ukraine

There is a pattern of impunity or collusion in violence by non-state actors against the nonreligious

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Countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritania, Pakistan

Systemic religious privilege results in significant social discrimination

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Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Some religious courts rule in civil or family matters on a coercive or discriminatory basis

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Countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Haiti, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Singapore, Turkey

‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

‘Apostasy’ is outlawed and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Bahrain, Comoros, Jordan, Kuwait

Blasphemy or criticism of religion is restricted in law and is punishable by a fine

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Finland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom

Concerns that secular or religious authorities interfere in specifically religious freedoms

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Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Republic of the, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, North Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam

State legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is an established church or state religion

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Finland, Georgia, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zambia

Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories

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Countries: Cameroon, Dominica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in at least some public schools (without secular or humanist alternatives)

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Cambodia, Chad, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom

Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious

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Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan

Government authorities push a socially conservative, religiously or ideologically inspired agenda, without regard to the rights of those with progressive views

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Grenada, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Discriminatory prominence is given to religious bodies, traditions or leaders

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

‘Blasphemy’ or criticism of religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia

‘Blasphemy’ is outlawed or criticism of religion (including de facto ‘blasphemy’ laws) is restricted and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Quasi-divine veneration of a ruling elite is enforced, or a single-party regime holds uncontested power, subject to severe punishment

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam

Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief

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Countries: Argentina, Burundi, Canada, Eritrea, Haiti, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tonga

It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization, or such groups are persecuted by authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Prohibitive interreligious social control (including interreligious marriage bans)

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Religious groups control some public or social services

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Denmark, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom

It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

The non-religious are barred from holding government office

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is a religious tax or tithing which is compulsory, or which is state-administered and discriminates by precluding non-religious groups

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Countries: Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Samoa, Sweden, Switzerland

Religious control over family law or legislation on moral matters

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious

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Countries: Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates

Some concerns about children's right to specifically religious freedom

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This condition may apply if specifically religious education, religious materials, or specific religious denominations are so tightly controlled that children are in fact over-protected from exposure to religion and are likely unable to explore or construct their own worldview in accordance with their evolving capacities. This condition helps us to classify states (perhaps with secular constitutions) which have criminalized specifically religious beliefs or practices. This condition is not applied if the restricted beliefs or practices are found to be outlawed due to their being of an extremist variety. While this condition does not directly reflect discrimination against non-religious persons or non-religious ideas, it does represent an overall threat to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; such restrictions could spill over to affect non-religious beliefs later; and they pose a risk of backlash against over-zealous secular authorities or even against non-religious individuals by association.

Countries: China, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guyana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

State-funding of religious institutions or salaries, or discriminatory tax exemptions

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It is made difficult to register or operate an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization

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Constitution and government

Article 75 of the Constitution⁵Constitución Política de la República de Costa Rica, https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?nValor1=1&nValor2=871 (accessed 29 November 2024) provides for freedom of religion, but establishes Roman Catholicism as the official state religion and affords the Church several benefits. The state has an obligation to contribute to the Church’s maintenance, but is not allowed to infringe on others’ right to freely exercise their religions that “do not impugn universal morality or proper behavior.”

A Catholic nation

In addition to Article 75 of the Constitution, which establishes Roman Catholicism as the State religion, in 1852, Costa Rica signed a Concordat with the Holy See.⁶Concordato entre Costa Rica y la Santa Sede, 7 October 1852, https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=exterior&cat=convenios&cont=610&instrumento=864 Thirty-two years later, the State repealed the Concordat, but passed a law that ensured the maintenance of support to the Catholic Church.⁷Congreso Constitucional De La República De Costa Rica, Deroga Concordato con Santa Sede y mantiene la subvención a la Iglesia, DECRETO N° XLV, 1884, http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?nValor1=1&nValor2=32657 In 2022, Costa Rica formally repealed the 1884 law, among others, with the stated purpose of repealing “expired or historically obsolete laws for the purification of the legal system.”⁸Legislative Assembly, Derogatoria de leyes caducas o históricamente obsoletas para la depuración del ordenamiento jurídico (VII parte), N° 10285, 20 September 2022, http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=98146&nValor3=133316&strTipM=TC

However, the Catholic Church still holds special legal recognition under Law No. 32370,⁹ President of the Republic and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion, Reglamento que Desarrolla los Alcances de la ley que otorga personería jurídica a la Conferencia Episcopal y Diócesis Ecleciásticas señalando la situación de los órganos que componen la Iglesia Católica, No. 32370, 2 May 2005, http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspxparam1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=54834&nValor3=60084&param2=1&strTipM=TC&lResultado=9&strSim=simp which also recognizes the legal effect of Canon law in the governance of the Catholic Church. According to the US State Department, part of the government budget goes to the Catholic churches for construction, maintenance and repair. The Catholic Church is exempt from income and property taxes.¹⁰“Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/

The Catholic Church has frequently been granted land by the government through the passage of several laws and executive decrees, most recently in 2020.¹¹“Resultados para: ‘Iglesia’ ‘Catolica’”, Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica, accessed 6 December 2024, http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_resultado_simple.aspx?param1=NER&param2=1&param3=FECHA&param4=DESC&param5=Iglesia%20Catolica

Besides civil marriages, only the Catholic Church may perform state-recognized marriages. Couples married in other religious communities must also go through a civil ceremony to receive state recognition.¹² “Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/

In 2019, a minister of the Social Christian Unity Party (Partido Unidad Social Cristiano – PUSC) presented a proposal for constitutional reforms that would render the State secular. The proposal included amendments to the wording of Article 75 that would declare that the State recognizes “religious pluralism”.¹³Jéssica Quesada, “Presentan iniciativa para que Costa Rica sea estado laico”, CR Hoy, 1 May 2019, https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/presentan-iniciativa-para-que-costa-rica-sea-estado-laico/; Josué Alfaro, “Diputado del PUSC presenta proyecto de Estado laico: ¿Qué dice en su iniciativa?”, Semanario Universidad, 2 May 2019, https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/diputada-del-pusc-presenta-proyecto-de-estado-laico-que-dice-en-su-iniciativa/ According to the US State Department, the Bill has expired due to lack of legislative action.¹⁴“Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/ However, media reports suggest that the majority of Costa Rican society is now in favour of a secular State.¹⁵Guillermo Solano Gutiérrez, “Reconocimiento hacia una mayor libertad religiosa avanza en los últimos 20 años”, Una Comunica, 20 September 2024, https://www.unacomunica.una.ac.cr/index.php/septiembre-2024/5621-reconocimiento-hacia-una-mayor-libertad-religiosa-avanza-en-los-ultimos-20-anos

Religion and politics

According to Articles 131, 142 and 159, respectively, the President, government ministers, and judges of the Supreme Court must be laypersons. However, several representatives of political parties have ties to evangelical Christian groups.¹⁶“Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/

The Constitution states that no one, clergy or layperson, may invoke religious doctrine as a means to a political goal (Article 28). Indeed, the Supreme Court of Elections of Costa Rica (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones de Costa Rica – TSE) has ruled repeatedly in order to ensure this principle is upheld in practice.¹⁷ Claire Nevache, “Los dilemas de las relaciones entre religión y política: las lecciones de Costa Rica”, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Políticos (CIEPs), 20 February 2024, https://cieps.org.pa/los-dilemas-de-las-relaciones-entre-religion-y-politica-las-lecciones-de-costa-rica/; Juan Luis Rivera Sánchez, “Invocación de motivos religiosos en la propaganda electoral: Una mirada desde la justicia electoral”, Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones de Costa Rica, 12 July 2018, https://www.tse.go.cr/revista/art/26/rivera_sanchez.html

The oath of office required of all public officials includes an invocation of God (Article 194). There does not appear to be an alternative.

Registration of religious groups

According to the US State Department, “the government does not require religious groups to register; however, religious groups must register if they engage in any type of fundraising. Authorities require registration to conduct financial transactions, obtain legal representation, and own property”.¹⁸“Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/

Education and children’s rights

State schools give religious instruction, and while in principle the focus of instruction is in instilling Christian values, rather than Catholicism per se, reports indicate that in practice it is often biased towards Catholic religious instruction.¹⁹José Solano, “Crisis de la educación religiosa: hacia una vieja propuesta”, Universidad Semanario, 22 May 2024, https://semanariouniversidad.com/opinion/crisis-de-la-educacion-religiosa-hacia-una-vieja-propuesta/; “Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/ The Ministry of Public Education (Ministerio de Educación Pública – MEP) provides religious education assistance to private schools, both Catholic and non-Catholic, including directly hiring teachers and providing teacher salaries and other funds for all grades.²⁰“Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/

Students may be exempted from religious education with parental permission, but they and their teachers and school principal must agree on an alternative course. It is estimated that six out of 10 children receive religious instruction at school.²¹Paula Ruiz, “6 de cada 10 escolares reciben educación religiosa en Costa Rica: ¿qué pasa con los demás alumnos?, El Observador, 30 September 2024, https://observador.cr/6-de-cada-10-escolares-reciben-educacion-religiosa-en-costa-rica-que-pasa-con-los-demas-alumnos/

Reports indicate that there have been occasions where children have been forced to remain in a religion class despite their parents’ written request that they be exempted. In 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled that the MEP and the educational center involved had violated the children’s rights, ordering the school to let the students wait in another space during the religion class, and the State to pay any resultant costs, damages, and losses.²²Luis Manuel Madrigal, “Sala IV condena al Estado por obligar a estudiantes a estar presentes en clases de Religión,” 20 June 2023, https://delfino.cr/2023/06/sala-iv-condena-al-estado-por-obligar-a-estudiantes-a-estar-presentes-en-clases-de-religion; “Costa Rica” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/costa-rica/

As of January 2024, the course materials had not been substantively updated since the early 2000s, according to one religious education teacher.²³Yuliana Vega Quesada, “Actualidad de la educación religiosa en la malla curricular: ¿mantenerla o eliminarla?”, Delfino, 17 January 2024, https://delfino.cr/2024/01/actualidad-de-la-educacion-religiosa-en-la-malla-curricular-mantenerla-o-eliminarla However, in September 2024, the MEP presented a proposal to the Higher Council of Education for changes to the Religious Education curriculum. At the center of the proposed changes is the promotion of religious harmony. To this end, the Ministry reportedly proposes to ensure that the curriculum does not focus on one denomination alone. Media reports suggest that the new curriculum would also include a contribution from “humanism” although it was unclear at the time of writing what this contribution might be. The proposal for the revised curriculum appears to have been prepared in conjunction with representatives of various religious groups including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, and Buddhist groups.²⁴Paula Ruiz, “Fortalecer la resiliencia y resolver conflictos: estos son los cambios que habrá en educación religiosa”, El Observador, 18 September 2024, https://observador.cr/fortalecer-la-resiliencia-y-resolver-conflictos-estos-son-los-cambios-que-habra-en-educacion-religiosa/ This proposal has yet to be approved at the time of writing.

Also in September, representatives of the Frente Amplio political party, presented a Bill to reform articles of the Fundamental Education Law and Code of Education to replace the emphasis on Christian morality within religious education with an emphasis on human rights principles.²⁵Luis Manuel Madrigal, “Frente Amplio presenta proyecto de ley para reformar la enseñanza religiosa”, Delfino, 25 September 2024, https://delfino.cr/2024/09/frente-amplio-presenta-proyecto-de-ley-para-reformar-la-ensenanza-religiosa At the time of writing, the Bill is under consideration of the relevant legislative committee.

Child sexual abuse

In September 2023, a representative of Frente Amplio proposed a Bill²⁶ Expediente 24592, Delfino, 25 September 2024, (accessed 6 December 2024), https://delfino.cr/asamblea/proyecto/24592 that seeks to oblige those in positions of authority – including religious authorities – to report instances of sexual crimes committed against minors or individuals with disabilities.²⁷Expediente 23928: Ley contra el silencio en delitos sexuales en perjuicio de la niñez y personas con discapacidad. Responsabilidad civil solidaria, deber de denuncia y garantía de cumplimiento de protocolos de investigación, Delfino, 11 September 2023, accessed 6 December 2024, https://delfino.cr/asamblea/proyecto/23928 The Bill has faced opposition from representatives of the Catholic Church as it has the potential to oblige them to break the secrecy of the confessional.²⁸“Proyecto en Costa Rica busca romper secreto de confesión en abusos”, Trivisión, 31 October 2024, https://trivisioncr.com/noticias-de-politica/proyecto-en-costa-rica-busca-romper-secreto-de-confesion-en-abusos/; Monserrat Cordero Parra, “Iglesia católica se opone a delatar a los abusadores de menores, mientras denuncias aumentan en Fiscalía”, Semanario Universidad, 6 November 2024, https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/iglesia-catolica-se-opone-a-delatar-a-los-abusadores-de-menores-mientras-denuncias-aumentan-en-fiscalia/ ; Ariana Pernía Paolini, “Proyecto de ley costarricense: Un “ataque directo a la doctrina” católica”, Vatican News, 4 November 2024, https://www.vaticannews.va/es/iglesia/news/2024-11/proyecto-de-ley-costarricense-un-ataque-directo-a-la-doctrina.html

Family, community and society

Periodic studies of the nation’s religious demography demonstrate a decline in the dominance of Roman Catholicism in the country, despite this, the Catholic Church holds a prominent place in public institutions, such as schools and hospitals. The Church – and the religious convictions of government officials – have had influence on policy making. The Catholic Church has intervened in public debates around a variety of issues, including in vitro fertilization, assisted dying, same-sex marriage and abortion.²⁹Megan Rivers-Moore, “In Latin America, not only abortions but miscarriages can lead to jail time”, the Conversation, 4 January 2022, https://theconversation.com/in-latin-america-not-only-abortions-but-miscarriages-can-lead-to-jail-time-173719; Felipe Mora-Bermúdez, “World’s last in vitro fertilization ban falls”, Nature, 536, page274 (2016), https://www.nature.com/articles/536274c

Abortion

Considered under the Criminal Code³⁰Legislative Assembly, Código Penal, N° 4573, 4 May 1970, http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?nValor1=1&nValor2=5027 as a “crime against life”, abortion remains illegal in the country except in cases of therapeutic abortion to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.³¹“Costa Rica’s Abortion Provisions”, Centre for Reproductive Rights, accessed 6 December 2024, https://reproductiverights.org/maps/provision/costa-ricas-abortion-provisions/ In such circumstances, abortion is only considered legal when it is performed with the consent of the pregnant person, after a mandatory evaluation by three medical professionals, and only when there is no other medical alternative. Outside of these circumstances, penalties range from three months to 10 years in prison depending on the circumstances.

The passage of a technical directive in 2019 – despite opposition from religious groups – ultimately paved the way for the law to be applied in practice where previously a lack of regulatory clarity at hospitals had meant that the law could not be applied.³²“Costa Rica’s president says therapeutic abortions will be allowed”, Reuters, 13 December 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/world/costa-ricas-president-says-therapeutic-abortions-will-be-allowed-idUSKBN1YH0EX/

In February 2023, the Government of President Rodrigo Chaves Robles was reportedly considering signing an executive decree that proposed to repeal the 2019 technical directive, and proposed to require the signature of the spouse or father for an abortion to take place.³³Aniram Brenes Morales and Natasha Jiménez Mata, Informe Alternativo sobre la situación de las personas lesbianas, gay, bisexuales, trans e intersex, Queer, No binarias (LGBTIQ+), (Mulabi, 2024), https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/cr-stakeholders-info-s47; Manuel Madrigal, “Gobierno de Chaves derogará norma técnica de aborto terapéutico, según borrador de decreto”, Delfino, 23 February 2023, https://delfino.cr/2023/02/gobierno-de-chaves-derogara-norma-tecnica-de-aborto-terapeutico-segun-borrador-de-decreto; Paula Ruiz, “Chaves no descarta que Gobierno modifique decreto de norma técnica sobre aborto terapéutico si magistrados no resuelven acción”, El Observador, 29 November 2023, https://observador.cr/chaves-no-descarta-que-gobierno-modifique-decreto-de-norma-tecnica-sobre-aborto-terapeutico-si-magistrados-no-resuelven-accion/ In addition, it has been reported that Nueva República attempted to eliminate emergency contraception from a Bill that would enshrine a protocol for the treatment of rape victims.³⁴Aniram Brenes Morales and Natasha Jiménez Mata, Informe Alternativo sobre la situación de las personas lesbianas, gay, bisexuales, trans e intersex, Queer, No binarias (LGBTIQ+), (Mulabi, 2024), https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/cr-stakeholders-info-s47; Luis Manuel Madrigal, “Nueva República intentó eliminar anticoncepción de emergencia en proyecto de protocolo para víctimas de violación”, Delfino, 29 February 2024, https://delfino.cr/2024/02/nueva-republica-intento-eliminar-anticoncepcion-de-emergencia-en-proyecto-de-protocolo-para-victimas-de-violacion; Esteban Arrieta, “Rocío Alfaro: Nueva República obstruye plan que obligaría a usar “píldora del día después” en casos de violación”, La República, 20 March 2024, https://www.larepublica.net/noticia/rocio-alfaro-nueva-republica-obstruye-plan-que-obligaria-a-usar-pildora-del-dia-despues-en-casos-de-violacion At the time of writing, the exact status of these Bills remained unclear.

LGBTI+ rights

On 25 May 2020, Costa Rica became the first Central American country to allow same-sex marriage following a decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.³⁵Cristian González Cabrera, “Costa Rica First in Central America to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage”, Human Rights Watch, 26 May 2020, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/26/costa-rica-first-central-america-legalize-same-sex-marriage Despite legislative advances, civil society organizations report that members of the LGBTI+ community face discrimination, isolation and violence.³⁶Informe alternativo, (Red Nacional de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Sexuales y Derechos Reproductivos (Red Deser) and Iniciativa por los Derechos Sexuales (SRI), 2024), https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/cr-stakeholders-info-s47

On 3 August 2023, conservative political party, Nueva República, presented a Bill³⁷“Expediente N°. 23857”, Nueva República, accessed 6 December 2024, https://nuevarepublica.cr/proyectos/23857/ seeking to define “gender ideology” as an “erroneous belief that claims the biological sex of each human being can be replaced by self-perception”.³⁸Translation of: “Para los efectos del presente proyecto de ley, se define la ideología de género como la creencia que, erróneamente, afirma que el sexo biológico de cada ser humano puede ser reemplazado por la autopercepción que ese ser humano tiene sobre sobre sí mismo” Based on this definition, the Bill seeks to amend the Law on Education, as well as the General Health Law to ensure that any content related to “gender ideology” in public policies aimed at minors is prohibited. The Bill provides for the possibility for any person or religious organization to have the right to invoke the right of “Conscientious Objection” and “Ideological Objection”, respectively, to ensure that no person or religious organization could be “compelled to recognize, promote, or celebrate gender ideology in any way if they consider it contrary to their principles and religious convictions”. Any person, manager or director of an official or private institution, or administrator of an industrial or commercial establishment would be sanctioned with twenty to sixty days of fines if they act against these moral or religious beliefs. The Bill is currently under review by the relevant commission.

In November 2024, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica reportedly criticized the State for undermining the rights of LGBTI+ people in the country after President Chaves rescinded a declaration of cultural interest from the Pride Day march one day before it was due to take place on 30 June. At the same time as withdrawing the declaration, President Chaves reportedly dismissed the Minister of Culture and the Commissioner of Social Inclusion for having approved it. While a declaration of cultural interest does not confer any financial or material support, the Court emphasized that it does give the event greater visibility and promotes awareness in society. The court ordered the State to pay costs and damages if the affected parties decide to claim them in an administrative dispute.³⁹ “Tribunal condena al Gobierno de Costa Rica por lesionar los derechos de la población LGTBI”, Infobae, 22 November 2024, https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/11/22/tribunal-condena-al-gobierno-de-costa-rica-por-lesionar-los-derechos-de-la-poblacion-lgtbi/

Conversion practices

Conversion practices are reportedly conducted by religious groups and psychologists in Costa Rica. Media reports also indicate that several groups offering such “therapies” are supported by Christian right organisations based in the US.⁴⁰Diana Cariboni, David Chavarría Hernández and Stephania Corpi, “Psicólogas ligadas a organizaciones ultraconservadoras estadounidenses dan terapias contra homosexualidad en Costa Rica”, Radios UCR, 24 November 2021, https://radios.ucr.ac.cr/2021/11/interferencia/reportajes/psicologas-ligadas-a-organizaciones-ultraconservadoras-estadounidenses-dan-terapias-contra-homosexualidad-en-costa-rica/

Individuals who have been subjected to such practices report being made to believe that they have been possessed by demons or that they had been subjected to sexual abuse as a child.⁴¹David Chavarría Hernández, “‘Nos hicieron creer que teníamos un demonio’, relatan sobrevivientes de supuestas terapias de conversión”, Radios UCR, 18 October 2022, https://radios.ucr.ac.cr/2022/10/interferencia/destacada/terapias-conversion/

A Bill⁴²Asamblea General, Expediente 20970: Ley para prohibir todas aquellas “terapias” dirigidas a revertir o modificar con fines de pretendida “curación” la orientación sexual de las personas LGBTI, https://delfino.cr/asamblea/proyecto/20970 to amend the General Health Law that would prohibit so-called “conversion therapies” has been before the Legislative Assembly since 2018, however, LGBTI+ rights NGO MULABI reports that its passage has been hindered by the opposition of mostly Christian, evangelical and conservative deputies.⁴³Aniram Brenes Morales and Natasha Jiménez Mata, Informe Alternativo sobre la situación de las personas lesbianas, gay, bisexuales, trans e intersex, Queer, No binarias (LGBTIQ+), (Mulabi, 2024), https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/cr-stakeholders-info-s47 According to one media report, by October 2022, ministers of the conservative political party Nueva Republica (New Republic) — headed by former Presidential candidate, Fabricio Alvarado, who ran on a conservative Christian platform in the 2018 elections⁴⁴Jon Henley, “Costa Rica: Carlos Alvarado wins presidency in vote fought on gay rights”, The Guardian, 2 April 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/02/costa-rica-quesada-wins-presidency-in-vote-fought-on-gay-rights — had submitted at least 100 motions in order to prevent the passage of the Bill.⁴⁵David Chavarría Hernández, “A punta de mociones, Nueva República intenta impedir ley que prohíba ‘terapias de conversión’”, Radios UCR, 18 October 2022, https://radios.ucr.ac.cr/2022/10/interferencia/noticias/plenario-terapias-de-conversion/

Religious groups appear to be divided in their position on the Bill. In March 2024, a coalition of liberal Christian Churches reportedly wrote to the Legislative Assembly to urge the passage of the Bill.⁴⁶Alonso Martinez, “Comunidad de iglesias cristianas inclusivas piden prohibir las ‘terapias de conversión’ en Costa Rica”, Delfino, 4 March 2024, https://delfino.cr/2024/03/comunidad-de-iglesias-cristianas-inclusivas-piden-prohibir-las-terapias-de-conversion-en-costa-rica However, the Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance Federation (Federación Alianza Evangélica Costarricense – FAEC) — that unites more than 4,000 evangelical churches across the country — categorically opposes the Bill on the basis that it represents a violation of “religious freedom”.⁴⁷ “Alianza Evangélica se opone al proyecto que prohíbe terapias de conversión”, Periodico Maranta, 5 March 2024, https://www.periodicomaranata.com/alianza-evangelica-se-opone-al-proyecto-de-terapias-de-conversion/ Catholic Bishops are also reportedly opposed to the Bill on the basis that it does not distinguish between adults and minors, which they felt undermines the rights of parents with regard to their children, and that to sanction those providing such “treatments” would violate the rights to “freedom of thought, expression, and religion”.⁴⁸ Aarón Sequeira, “Iglesia católica se opone a prohibición de ‘terapias de conversión’”, La Nación, 6 March 2024, https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/politica/iglesia-catolica-rechaza-prohibicion-de-terapias/RELUU3MVGBANDOXQJDJBHJ5ANI/story/ The President of Costa Rica has also been outspoken in his opposition to the Bill, expressing concern about the provision of sanctions for those who offer so-called “therapies”.⁴⁹Fabiola Pomareda García, “Presidente se opone a proyecto de Frente Amplio para sancionar terapias de conversión sexual aunque dice que no la ha leído”, Semanario Universidad, 6 March 2024, https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/presidente-se-opone-a-proyecto-de-frente-amplio-para-sancionar-terapias-de-conversion-sexual-aunque-dice-que-no-lo-ha-leido/

Assisted Dying

In September 2021, the Human Rights Commission of the Legislative Assembly reportedly archived a Bill that would have legalized assisted dying for the terminally ill in the country.⁵⁰Paula Ruiz, “Eutanasia continuará siendo prohibida, diputados archivaron proyecto para permitirla,” El Observador, 21 September 2021, https://observador.cr/eutanasia-continuara-siendo-prohibida-diputados-archivaron-proyecto-para-permitirla/ The Catholic Church had, in 2019, voiced its objection to the passage of the Bill.⁵¹Monserrat Cordero Para, “Iglesia Católica rechaza proyecto de ley que permitiría acceder a eutanasia y muerte digna”, Semanario Universidad, 3 May 2019, https://semanariouniversidad.com/ultima-hora/iglesia-catolica-rechaza-proyecto-de-ley-que-permitiria-acceder-a-eutanasia-y-muerte-digna/

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

When read together, Articles 28 and 29 of the Constitution enshrine freedom of expression in Costa Rica.

Article 28 reads:

“No one may be harassed or persecuted for expressing their opinions or for any act that does not violate the law.

“Private actions that do not harm public morality or order, or that do not harm third parties, are outside the scope of the law.”⁵²Unofficial translation of: “Nadie puede ser inquietado ni perseguido por la manifestación de sus opiniones ni por acto alguno que no infrinja la ley.Las acciones privadas que no dañen la moral o el orden públicos, o que no perjudiquen a tercero, están fuera de la acción de la ley.”

Article 29 reads:

“All may communicate their thoughts orally or in writing, and publish them without prior censorship; however they will be held responsible for any abuses they commit in the exercise of this right, in the cases and in the manner established by law.”⁵³ Unofficial translation of: Todos pueden comunicar sus pensamientos de palabra o por escrito, y publicarlos sin previa censura; pero serán responsables de los abusos que cometan en el ejercicio de este derecho, en los casos y del modo que la ley establezca

However, reports suggest that freedom of expression – and more specifically media freedom – has come under increasing pressure in the country since the 2022 elections.⁵⁴Mariana Álvarez, “Report in Costa Rica highlights risks to press freedom and access to information during the 2022 general elections”, UNESCO, 11 May 2023, https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/report-costa-rica-highlights-risks-press-freedom-and-access-information-during-2022-general; Encuesta sobre libertad de expresión y confianza en medios de comunicación (PROLEDI and Universidad de Costa Rica, 2023), https://www.ucr.ac.cr/medios/documentos/2023/informe-de-libertad-de-expresion-version-final-2-de-octubre-2023-651b353c7b1e5.pdf Journalists critical of the government have reportedly been the target of verbal attacks and have seen their access to state-held information restricted.⁵⁵“Costa Rica”, Reporters Without Borders, accessed 6 December 2024, https://rsf.org/en/country/costa-rica; Luis Manuel Madrigal, “Sala IV condena al Estado por ataques de Rodrigo Chaves a periodistas”, Delfino, 23 May 2023, https://delfino.cr/2023/05/sala-iv-condena-al-estado-por-ataques-de-rodrigo-chaves-a-periodistas Attacks on female journalists are particularly prevalent. While politicians have resorted to verbal attacks on the media, the judiciary has repeatedly ruled in favour of freedom of expression and to protect journalists.⁵⁶“Costa Rica: Accelerated decline of the freedom of the press” in Chapultepec Index on Freedom of Expression and the Press (Inter-American Press Association, 2024), https://www.indicedechapultepec.com/new/indice/3/informes_en.pdf

Civic space monitor, CIVICUS describes Costa Rica’s civil society space as “narrowed” indicating that while “the state allows individuals and civil society organisations to exercise their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression, violations of these rights also take place.”⁵⁷“Costa Rica”, Civicus, accessed 6 December 2024, https://monitor.civicus.org/country/costa-rica/ Indigenous rights defenders have reportedly come under attack for defending their rights.⁵⁸ “Attacks against Indigenous people and at least nine people detained during the multiple water crisis protests”, CIVICUS Monitor, 5 April 2024, https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/attacks-against-indigenous-people-and-at-least-nine-people-detained-during-the-multiple-water-crisis-protests/; “Indigenous rights defender Mainor Ortíz Delgado shot”, Front Line Defenders, 17 February 2020, https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/indigenous-rights-defender-mainor-ortiz-delgado-shot; “Arson attacks & threats against indigenous peoples’ rights defender Pablo Sibas Sibas”, Front Line Defenders, 11 March 2020, https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/arson-attacks-threats-against-indigenous-peoples%E2%80%99-rights-defender-pablo-sibas-sibas; “Attempts to usurp indigenous land, threats and intimidation against indigenous rights defenders”, Front Line Defenders, 30 July 2020, https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/attempts-usurp-indigenous-land-threats-and-intimidation-against-indigenous-rights-defenders