Genocide Watch classifies Costa Rica at Stage 3: Discrimination.
2026 July
In its July 2026 country report, the human rights monitoring organization Genocide Watch classified Costa Rica at Stage 3: Discrimination. The report cited the government’s crackdowns on LGBTQ+ rights, restrictions on press freedom, rising crime, and inaction on refugee rights and gender-based violence as reasons for the classification.
Among the anti-LGBTQ+ measures documented, the report noted the elimination of the LGBTI Commissioner position, the repeal of an anti-bullying protocol protecting LGBTQ+ students in schools, and the rescinding of an executive decree designed to eliminate discrimination against LGBTQ+ people within state institutions. Genocide Watch characterized these as efforts by the Costa Rican government to limit protections against discrimination for the LGBTQ+ community.
The organization recommended that the Costa Rican government strengthen enforcement of protective orders in cases of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people and against women and girls.