Costa Rica

FPP has been supporting partners in Costa Rica since 2008 and started its field programme in 2010-2011. We now collaborate with national and local partners from the indigenous territories of Salitre and Térraba supporting on strategic legal actions, capacity building and advocacy.

Country Overview

There are eight indigenous peoples in Costa Rica, comprising approximately 2.4 percent of the national population, according to a 2011 census. Many of them live in 24 legally recognised indigenous territories as well as in lands traditionally occupied but presently not included in these titled territories.

Despite the fact that these 24 territories are recognised by the Indigenous Law (Law No. 6172) of 29 November 1977, most of the lands within the indigenous territories are in the hands of non-indigenous settlers. This situation has raised the concern from international human rights bodies such as ILO CEACR, CERD, SRIPR, OHCHR and IACHR.

Costa Rica has historically been considered an exemplary country in terms of human rights protection. However, this perception has been limited to an ethnocentric conception, as the State has continuously and permanently failed to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. This is evidenced by the fact that for almost 50 years, the country has failed to implement its own Indigenous Law of 1977.

Costa Rica's continued failure to respect indigenous peoples' rights to land, territories and resources, their legal personality, and institutions, as well as to guarantee their security, constitute the greatest obstacles indigenous peoples face in maintaining and exercising their rights.

Illegal occupation in indigenous territories remains a massive problem in the area. Although multiple authorities such as CERD, SRIP and CEACR (Commission of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations of the ILO), have called on the Costa Rican State to take immediate action, the massive occupation of Indigenous territories continue to be treated with indifference by the State, and continue to be the immediate cause of violence and criminalisation against indigenous human rights defenders.

Main activities

We have a particular focus on:

• Land restitution (recuperacion de tierra)
• Self-determination, self-governance and respect for own institutions
• Systematic violence against indigenous human rights defenders
• Environmental conservation and forest policy and finance

Currently, our main activities are:

• Follow-up of the IACHR Precautionary Measures and Case No. 13.540 Bribri People from Salitre vs. Costa Rica and Case No.15.026 Teribe (Brörán) People from Térraba vs. Costa Rica
• Support for litigation before the Constitutional Court of Costa Rica on behalf of Bribri and Brörán peoples
• Advocate for the implementation of CERD recommendations - urgent proceeding
• Advocate for the implementation of recommendations of the SRIP in its 2022 Report on its visit to Costa Rica A/HRC/51/28/Add.1
• Advocate for fair compensation to indigenous peoples who have suffered human rights violations and impunity