Attacks on the Press in 2006 - Snapshots: Costa Rica
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | February 2007 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Attacks on the Press in 2006 - Snapshots: Costa Rica, February 2007, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47c567560.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
CPJ urged President Oscar Arias to bring Costa Rica's defamation laws into compliance with international standards on freedom of expression. In a June 8 letter, CPJ expressed concern about a May 3 decision by the Costa Rican Constitutional Court to uphold a press law that makes defamation a crime. Article 7 of the 1902 statute imposes a prison sentence of up to 120 days for defamation in print media. CPJ also expressed alarm over a bill introduced in Congress seeking to establish press regulatory agencies and impose strict controls on journalism. In a July 14 letter to CPJ, Justice Minister Laura Chinchilla said that the government "will not help or support any legislative proposal that hinders press freedom in any way."
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