Relator @EdisonLanza recibe a delegación de la Red de Medios e Iniciativas de Comunicación Alternativos de Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/n92YDl1lto
— RELE (@RELE_CIDH) December 1, 2016
Expression
Costa Rican citizens' ability to access information and express themselves online is on the increase, with the proportion of low-income families without internet access falling from 49.9% to 40.9% in 2016. The decrease was mainly due to broader smartphone use, which allows for cheaper internet access.
Despite this progress, according to Costa Rican civil society challenges remain regarding the freedom of expression. During the 159th session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), held in Panama City in December, representatives of the Network of Alternative Communications Media and Initiatives (RedMICA) met with the IACHR's Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. In their submission, RedMICA criticised free expression violations which they say are mainly caused by the country's outdated media law, which allows just five private conglomerates to control all radio frequencies and TV outlets. In response, civil society has developed an alternative law, which would address the shortcomings of the existing law from 1954, introduce clearer procedures for the allocation of licenses and ensure a plurality of voices in the country's media.
Ahora con la aplicación "defensoría cr" en Google Play y App Store, desde el teléfono puede presentar consultas y denuncias s/ serv.públicos pic.twitter.com/qVj865Jgbr
— Defensoría CR (@defensoriacr) December 16, 2016
Association
On 4th November, the Ombudsman's office, along with the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, held a meeting with a variety of organisations advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples, women, children, afro-Costaricans, disabled people, migrants and sexual minorities in order to promote increased civil society participation within the UN system. A month later on 6th December, the Costa Rican Ombudsman launched a free mobile app, Defensoría CR, to allow citizens to easily locate the nearest Ombudsman's office as well as to make complaints, participate in surveys and submit claims regarding public services through a form in the app.
Also in December, the Cato Institute presented its 2016 Human Freedom Index Report, a comparative global measurement of personal, civil and economic freedom. Personal freedom is measured in several areas, included the freedom of associate with others and establish organisations. Costa Rica is ranked 38 out of 159 countries, and is ranked as the 4th freest country in the Americas, behind only Canada, the United States and Chile.
Human Freedom Index | Cato Institute — 6 of the top 10 most free countries are Common Law jurisdictions. Just saying https://t.co/BUHLNlTSmy
— Tom Paine (@tompaine) December 1, 2016