QCOSTARICA — The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) is reporting a significant increase in reports of street sexual harassment (acoso sexual callejero in Spanish).
Roberto Pérez, investigative officer of the Specialized Section on Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and Smuggling of Migrants, reported that in 2024 alone, his office in San José received 67 reports of sexual harassment.
So far in 2025, seven reports have been filed in the same office.
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For authorities, these figures reflect a worrying trend nationwide. The areas with the most reported cases are:
- San José
- Heredia
- Alajuela
Meanwhile, the province of Guanacaste has the lowest number of reported cases.
The OIJ noted that the metropolitan area of San José has the highest number of reports. However, authorities emphasized that incidents of sexual harassment can occur anywhere.
The OIJ report notes that most incidents occur on Mondays, between noon and 3:00 pm, due to the greater movement of people.
“Unfortunately, we live in a society that still bears traces of machismo, where this type of behavior has been somewhat normalized, where clearly the vast majority of victims are women, and also minors, but the law is changing this situation,” Pérez commented.
What is considered street sexual harassment?
Street sexual harassment is defined by a special law that defines both criminal and misdemeanor behavior.
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The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that people can move through public spaces, enter private places with public access, or use public transportation free from sexual harassment.
Behaviors that constitute a crime under this law must have a sexual connotation and occur in the aforementioned places.
These include:
- Exhibitionism or masturbation
- Stalking
- Production of audiovisual material without the victim’s consent
In addition to these offenses, the law also includes misdemeanor behaviors such as words, gestures, or vulgarities, including vulgar catcalls.
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It is important to note that the crime is aggravated if the victim is a minor (under the age of 18) or an elderly person (over 65 years of age).
How to file a complaint?
The OIJ, through its specialized section, investigates situations that constitute a crime after the complaint is filed:
Complaints can be filed at any OIJ office nationwide, including a specialized office in San José that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Complaints can also be filed with the Ministerio Publico (Public Prosecutor’s Office), specifically the Rapid Processing Prosecutor’s Office in San José and other territorial prosecutor’s offices.
In the investigation, the OIJ gathers evidence and testimonies to send a report to the Prosecutor’s Office, where legal proceedings against the suspect are continued.
Authorities urge victims of street sexual harassment to report the incidents so that the corresponding investigations can be conducted, those responsible identified, and the cases brought to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Early reporting is crucial, as this type of behavior can escalate in intensity, even leading to sexual abuse or rape.
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