Search Results

Sort by
News

Costa Rica First in Central America to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Joins Six Neighbors in Latin America to Recognize Marriage Equality

Today, Alexandra Quiros and Dunia Araya were the first same-sex couple to marry in Costa Rica, as marriage equality became legal in the country. It took a while. In 2016, Costa Rica requested that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights interpret…
201911US_lgbt_rights
News

New Americas Treaty Boosts Environmental Rights

A new treaty to deepen the link between environmental protection and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean has the potential to reduce the conflicts that lead to the murders of so many environmental defenders in the region.  The…
Bernardo, a man in his 30s, was born in a quilombo (Afro-Brazilian) community of around 60, men, women, and children in Minas Gerais State, southeast Brazil. Bernardo told Human Rights Watch that he feels powerless against aerial spraying of pesticides. “
News

Costa Rica Launches Initiative on Environment and Human Rights

“For All Initiative” Promotes Gender Equality in Global Environmental Treaties

Today, Costa Rica will launch an initiative aiming to make gender equality and human rights integral components of global environmental agreements.    Costa Rica’s Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr will launch the For All…
Young girl washing dishes at a borehole near Eland coal mine in Mwabulambo, Karonga district.
News

Costa Rica Joins Global Push to Recognize Legal Gender Self-Identification

Government Decree Follows Inter-American Court Opinion

In June, Costa Rica’s president signed a directive and decree ordering government agencies that issue official documents to recognize gender identity based on self-declaration. The move follows an Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR)…
News

Latin America Could Lead the Way for LGBT Rights in 2018

In a moment when some countries have stepped back on LGBT rights, a January 9th decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has opened a window of opportunity for Latin America to lead the way.   In a landmark…
People celebrate after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights called on Costa Rica and Latin America to recognize equal marriage, in San Jose, Costa Rica, January 9, 2018. The sign reads: "The court said yes".
News

For LGBT Rights, 2018 Will Be the Year of the Courts

After everything that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people experienced in 2017 — from roundups and torture in Chechnya to antigay witch hunts in Egypt and Indonesia, closure of queer-friendly health facilities in…
The Indian Supreme Court building in New Delhi, India.
News

OAS: Save Human Rights Body

Financial Crisis Threatens Basic Protections

(Washington, D.C.) – Member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) should promptly ensure that the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights receives enough financial support to fulfill its mandate, Human Rights…
A protester holds up a sign next to relatives of some of the 43 missing students of Ayotzinapa College Raul Isidro Burgos during a march in Mexico City
News

Cluster Munitions Ban: National Laws Needed

Annual Treaty Meeting Opens in Costa Rica

(San Jose, Costa Rica) – Countries around the world should enact strong laws to implement the treaty banning cluster munitions, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today at an international meeting of nations party to the treaty. The…
News

Costa Rica: Turn Mario Uribe Over to Colombia

President’s Cousin Allegedly Tied to Death Squads

The Costa Rican government should turn former Colombian Senator Mario Uribe over to Colombia for prosecution for his alleged involvement with paramilitary death squads, Human Rights Watch said today. Uribe is a cousin of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe…
News

DR-CAFTA Falls Short on Workers’ Rights

The U.S. House of Representatives will likely vote before the end of this week on the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). The House should reject the accord for falling short on workers' human rights because it does…
News

The Right Way to Trade

The Bush administration is quietly carrying on a major new trade negotiation with Central America that could show -- contrary to the notion that globalization hurts workers -- how international trade deals can increase respect for labor rights. But the…
News

U.N. Rights Body In Serious Decline

(Geneva) - This year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has proved even more disappointing than last year, Human Rights Watch said on the last day of the six-week meeting in Geneva.     An "abusers club" of governments hostile to…