In the last year, hate speech against the migrant population in Costa Rica increased by up to 50%, according to a report report of the United Nations published last week, which also mentions attacks against people because of their gender and sexual orientation, as well as generation shock, racism, among others.
The UN recorded at least 1.4 million messages and conversations on social networks linked to hate speech and discrimination in the last year, compared to 937,000 messages in 2022. If you compare the current figure with that of 2021, the increase in hate speech was 255%, the report indicates.
Claudia Vargas, of the Arias Foundation, a Costa Rica-based organization that assists migrants, told the voice of america that this problem in terms of xenophobia has been growing “for a long time”, and in his opinion, “the problem” increases more when measures are not taken to stop it.
He adds that “there are some speeches by President Rodrigo Chaves that fuel xenophobia against the migrant population.”
The VOA reached out to the government for comment but had not received a response by press time.
“Nothing is being done to stop [los discursos de odio]. There is an increase, for a while, the country is not taking any policies to stop it, you have to go to the place of origin and close sites that generate hate,” said Vargas.
According to the UN investigation, the number of xenophobic messages found on social networks was 236,000, while hate messages by gender were 214,000.
Braulio Abarca, from the Nunca Más Nicaragua Collective, an organization that documents human rights violations, agrees with the Arias Foundation that “incitement to hatred and discrimination on social networks against migrant refugee populations and asylum seekers” is They are partly encouraged by the presidency of the republic, as in different State institutions, which “have addressed the situation of refugees in a violent manner and based on hate speech.”
Abarca mentions that “slightly exaggerated” assertions have been made since the presidency, such as that migrants “cost Costa Rica between 300 and 400 million dollars a year.”
“We would also like to recall that both the United Nations agencies and the UNHCR, as well as the international cooperation of the European Union and the United States and other countries collaborate with this government to be able to address the serious situation of refugees and migrants in their totality”, emphasizes Abarca.
The human rights defender pointed out that it is necessary to implement public policies to respect the human rights of migrants and refugee applicants, and that “educational standards can also be established, and that actions aimed at respect and promotion and awareness of the rights of migrants”.
“We are concerned,” says the Costa Rican government
The increase in hate speech “is worrisome and reflects a social trend,” said the Costa Rican Minister of Communication, Jorge Rodríguez Vives, in a speech public.
In turn, he mentioned that the fight against hate speech and discrimination should be an effort of “all civil society.”
“This United Nations report will allow us to understand new audiences and adapt strategies,” Rodríguez stressed.
I agree with you data of the Costa Rica Refugee Unit, it is estimated that as of December 31, 2022 there were 231,847 refugee applicants in the country (88% are Nicaraguan nationals, 4% Venezuelans, 1% Cubans, 1% Colombians, among others). .
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