Report on the grave and persistent violation of indigenous peoples' rights in Costa Rica

This report addresses the pattern of pervasive, long-standing and inter-connected violations or denials of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Republic of Costa Rica, and the ongoing situation of impunity in which they occur and persist.

These violations, in their majority addressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) since the late nineties, include the massive and illegal occupation of titled indigenous lands, the persistent violence and threats against the indigenous communities, their leaders and members, the absence of adequate procedures to address rights to traditional lands outside of these titled areas, stalled legislative reforms, the unconstitutional advance of the Diquís Hydroelectric Project in the territories of indigenous peoples, and denials of indigenous peoples’ rights to juridical personality and to govern their internal affairs through institutions of their choice.

FULL REPORT: Report on the grave and persistent violation of indigenous peoples' rights in Costa Rica (87th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 3-28 August 2015)