A group of 55 organizations offered greater protection for people who defend Human Rights in Costa Rica.
The entities signed a petition, following the report of the organization Global Witness that places Latin America as the first place in the ranking of murders against defenders of the land and the environment.
In this context, the 55 Costa Rican organizations, adhering to this communiqué, point out the urgency of adopting mechanisms to protect human rights activists,”
said the organizations.
Some of the requests that were made was the approval in the Legislative Assembly of file 19.610, and thus improve the legal security of people who protect nature.
The reforms to the Penal Code in File 19610 propose:
-Whoever kills a human rights defender or activist in defense and promotion of human rights will be imprisoned for twenty to thirty-five years;
-The penalty of imprisonment will be four to ten years for anyone who deprives another of their freedom, an advocate or activist in protection and promotion of human rights;
-Victims shall be considered as persons who are publicly and notoriously recognized as human rights defenders or activists established and guaranteed in the instruments of Public International Law ratified and in force in the country, when in crimes against one or several of its members the motive be their status as activists or advocates.