Organizations reject government's claim of 'full protection' after Costa Rica leaves OAS LGBTI Core Group.

2026 April 7

After the Chaves government announced Costa Rica’s withdrawal from the LGBTI Core Group of the Organization of American States (OAS), Foreign Minister Arnoldo André justified the decision by claiming the country had “completed full protection of the rights of all minorities” and that diplomatic efforts should focus on more urgent matters.

Civil society organizations and activists rejected this argument, stating that Costa Rica does have pending tasks and that full protection of human rights has not been completed. Among the unmet needs they cited was the absence of a comprehensive gender identity law, which leaves trans and non-binary people in legal and institutional limbo, along with the lack of an explicit ban on conversion therapy and persistent discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people in health services. They pointed to the UN’s 2025 report finding a 344% increase in attacks against LGBTIQ+ people in Costa Rica as evidence that the government’s claim was false.

News article in Spanish:

• Organizaciones rechazan argumentos del Gobierno tras salida de Costa Rica del Grupo Núcleo LGBTI de la OEA - Delfino
• Salida de foro de la OEA: organizaciones LGBTIQA+ acusan al Gobierno de distanciarse y falsear situación de derechos - La Nación
• Organizaciones LGBTIQA+ tachan de “falsas” justificaciones de Cancillería sobre retiro del foro de la OEA - El Mundo CR