QCOSTARICA — The human rights of women and historically vulnerable groups such as the LGBTI population are regressing thanks to the latest decisions of the Rodrigo Chaves government in alliance with conservative groups associated with churches of various denominations.
The warning is made by independent feminists, women’s groups and even former government officials such as Ricardo Sossa, who was the Commissioner for Social Inclusion between 2022 and 2024.
The elimination of the Integrated Affection and Sexuality Programs (Programas de Afectividad y Sexualidad Integrada) developed by the last PLN (2010-2014) and PAC (2014-2022) governments, to be replaced by guides developed jointly by the government, the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Alliance and other groups, is causing concern among progressive groups.
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Likewise, the government’s decision to eliminate the protocol for dealing with bullying against the LGBTI population of school and college age and instead use a more comprehensive approach is being questioned.
Finally, there is concern about a bill that will be presented by the government and that toughens the penalties against abortion up to 12 years in prison.
Read more: Government of Costa Rica proposes changes to toughen penalties for abortion
“They are removing sexual guides for young women and that will generate unwanted pregnancies, so many of them could be doubly punished, because they get pregnant due to lack of education and information and also, they will receive a greater penalty for the issue if they abort,” said Marlene Mora, president of the Forum of Women Politicians, who referred to the issue in a personal capacity.
“Sex education programs in Costa Rica do not promote sexual perversion in students, as President Chaves has pointed out,” according to Marilyn Batista, businesswoman and independent writer.
“If we go to the extreme of saying that it invites people to watch pornography, then we would have to apply censorship to some soap operas, many films that are broadcast during hours when minors are awake, and cable programming,” Batista clarified.
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Meanwhile, Ricardo Sossa, the government’s Commissioner for Social Inclusion between 2022 and 2024, described the government’s latest actions against historically vulnerable populations as “systematic discrimination by the president.”
“How many young women, teenage girls, can become pregnant due to lack of adequate sexual education? Let us remember that the government also changed the sexual education programs. This can translate into more clandestine abortions and unwanted pregnancies. I hope the Legislative Assembly does not approve this bill,” stated Marlene Mora, President of the Forum of Women Politicians.
Official response
Surrounded by religious leaders of various beliefs, the president embraced the conservative agenda on Wednesday one year before the 2026 presidential elections.
The president pointed out that previous sex education programs promoted “sexual perversion in our classrooms and that is unacceptable,” since they invited students to watch pornography to identify stigmas and seek autoeroticism and self-pleasure, or masturbation.
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“What governments and education ministers did, starting with former minister Leonardo Garnier, by bringing sexual perversion into our classrooms, is and was unacceptable. When the Minister of Education told me that sexual education guidelines require that children between 2 and 14 years old be taught self-stimulation or masturbation, my blood boiled,” said Chaves.
For Chaves, sexual education is part of family education, while schools provide training.
“Schools and colleges will continue to provide training on what they need in biology, sexual reproduction and the consequences of the actions of an unwanted or premature pregnancy, the methods that can protect young people,” added Chaves.
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