Costa Rica

General Information______________________________________________________
Capital: San Jose
Median age: total: 30.4 years
Surface area: 51,100 sq km
male: 30 years
Population: 4,814,144 (July 2015 est.)
female: 30.9 years (2015 est.)
Head of Government: Luis Guillermo
GDP/ GDP Growth Rate: $74.09
Solis (2014)
billion /3% (2015 est.)
Type of Government: Democratic
Major resources: hydropower
Republic
Major exports: electricity, crude oil
Official language(s): Spanish (official),
Major imports: electricity, refined
English
petroleum products
Ethnic groups: white or mestizo 83.6%,
Unemployment rate: total: 21.8%
mulato 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of
Current environmental issues:
African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none
deforestation and land use change,
2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)
largely a result of the clearing of land
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.3%,
for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil
Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses
erosion; coastal marine pollution;
1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other
fisheries protection; solid waste
4.8%, none 3.2%
management; air pollution

Costa Ricas Membership in International

Organizations________________________
BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national
committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM
(observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA,
SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Costa Rica in UNHCR
Topic: Transforming Refugee Camps into Sustainable Settlements in the
Case of Protracted Displacement
During 2014, all States in the Central America participated in the Cartagena+30
process. MERCOSUR countries have renewed their commitment to high
protection standards, the gradual and regional harmonization of procedures and
practices, and proposed new solutions initiatives. This includes an evaluation of
the Solidarity Resettlement Programme launched under the Mexico Plan of
Action, with a view to improving and consolidating it. Particular attention and
consideration has been given to the regional migration frameworks under
MERCOSUR for the benefit of refugees.

On 16 November 2015 the police of Costa Rica gave a blow to a network of

"coyotes" dedicated to trafficking. Given this fact hundreds of Cuban migrants
were stranded on the border with Nicaragua, as this country closed the passage
through its territory.
Immediately the Gobioerno of the Republic of Costa Rica activated national
institutions for the care of Cuban families. They obtained an extra 7,802 Cuban
visas, which allowed them to this legally in Costa Rica; 5,500 were treated in 44
shelters throughout the national territory, with the participation of
communities, churches, associations of civil society with the direct participation
of the National Commission of Risk Prevention and Emergency Response
(CNE), the Joint Institute Social aid (IMAS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Worship, the Migration and Aliens, Ministry of Security, among many
other national institutions.
It was an effort unprecedented in the history of the country to meet so many
migrants.

Objective: President Solis made clear from the outset that Costa Rica would meet its
tradition of respect for human rights and laws, and not abandon leave migrants they
transiting in legal situation.
Costa Rica in UNHCR
Topic: Strengthening the Capacity of Refugee Host Countries

A strong regional force headed by President Solis Rivera and the Chancellor of
the Republic to bring the Costa Rican position before the rulers of Mexico,
Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, the United States and Central America, given the
complexity of the case and linking all these countries .
President Solis had to raise his voice in the Central areas to seek a solution and
finally on December 28 at a meeting of authorities in the region and the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) an agreement to "safe passage
was achieved, orderly and documented "migrants.

This institutional and intergovernmental effort reinforces the belief that the
immigration issue is a phenomenon that demands a comprehensive and collective
solution that promotes respect for human rights of migrants and recognize their
contribution to development in our countries.
All countries that participated in this operation reiterate that the facilities
provided within its territory to allow air and land transportation of Cuban
migrants to reach their destination, they responded to an exceptional and unique
situation.

Sources_________________________________________________________________
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e492456.html
http://www.rree.go.cr/index.php?sec=servicios%20al%20publico&cat=servicios%20de
%20informacion&cont=593&noticia=2761
http://www.rree.go.cr/index.php?sec=servicios%20al%20publico&cat=servicios%20de
%20informacion&cont=593&noticia=2769