Date of publication:
03/24/2025
Costa Rica
Do domestic laws and policies prioritize access to national social care services for unaccompanied and separated children, victims of trafficking in persons, survivors of gender-based violence, or other groups with specific needs and vulnerabilities?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The national regulatory framework ensures health care for various vulnerable population groups. This includes minors - regardless of whether they are nationals or foreigners, without any distinction based on migratory status - pregnant women, individuals diagnosed as HIV positive, and victims of human trafficking. These individuals are all entitled to receive free medical care and attention. This provision exists independently of the potential for state-sponsored insurance coverage or the possibility of joining the non-contributory regime due to poverty. In addition, the Código de la Niñez y la Adolescencia explicitly stipulates at Article 5 that every public or private action concerning a minor must consider their best interest.
The National Coalition Against the Illicit Trafficking of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons (CONATT) is responsible for promoting the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of national, regional, and local public policies for the prevention of illicit trafficking and trafficking in persons, the care and protection of victims, and the prosecution and punishment of those responsible.
CONATT is created by the Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el Tráfico Ilícito de Migrantes y la Trata de Personas (CONATT). This Law must be applied in consideration of the Principle of equality and non-discrimination: Regardless of the judicial or administrative process that is carried out for the investigation of the crime of human trafficking, the provisions contained in this law must be applied in such a way that the respect for the human rights of the victims of this crime is guaranteed, without any discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, disability status, sex, gender, age, language, religion, sexual orientation, political opinions or any other kind, origin, nationality, economic position or any other social or migratory condition.