Costa Rica

The Inter-Institutional Commission for the Follow-up and Implementation of International Human Rights Obligations is Costa Rica's standing national mechanism for implementation reporting and follow-up.

The coordination and leadership of the Inter-Institutional Commission is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship.

The Commission is composed of representatives from various public institutions within the Executive Branch and autonomous entities related to the implementation of human rights. In addition, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Legislative Assembly, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal participate as supporting institutions, while the Office of the Ombudsperson participates as a permanent observer. Other features of its structure can be found in the Executive Decree that established it, No. 36776-RE dated August 9, 2011.

Composition The national mechanism includes representatives from:

• Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy
• Ministry of Public Education
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements
• Ministry of Social Welfare and Family
• National Child Welfare Agency (PANI)
• National Institute for Women (INAMU)
• Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications
• Ministry of Culture and Youth
• Ministry of Security, Governance and Police
• Ministry of Justice and Peace
• Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
• Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce
• Ministry of Finance
• Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (AyA)
• Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE)
• National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC)
• Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS)
• National Council for Older Adults (CONAPAM)
• National Council for Persons with Disabilities (CONAPDIS)
• National Commission for Indigenous Affairs (CONAI)
• General Directorate of Migration and Immigration
• Supreme Court of Justice
• Legislative Assembly
• Supreme Electoral Tribunal
• Office of the Ombudsperson

These institutions are invited to appoint representatives to the Commission through official letters signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The appointments are also made formally through official letters signed by the respective heads of each institution.

The national mechanism includes focal points under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Gender Equality Mechanism focal points.

Secretariat As part of the National Coordination of the Mechanism, there is an Executive Secretariat that coordinates these processes alongside institutional focal points, as well as the team of diplomats from the Department of International Law and Human Rights within the Directorate of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Methods of work Regular meetings are held every two months. Additionally, sub-commissions created to address specific processes—either ad hoc or permanent (such as the Sub-commission for Dialogue with Civil Society)—meet more frequently, depending on need. Plenary meetings are attended by all institutions represented in the Commission, while sub-commissions are composed based on the nature and specifics of the process at hand.

Institutional memory and trainings An institutional archive and memory are maintained at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship.

The Commission’s training program is established annually in the work plan and is linked to the processes under the responsibility of the Inter-Institutional Commission at any given time. Therefore, training is a permanent component of the work plan; however, its content is defined on an ad hoc basis according to ongoing processes and based on support provided by the United Nations system, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Human Rights System, and/or international donors.

MANDATE The mandate of the national mechanism includes: • Reporting to UN human rights mechanisms (UN Treaty Bodies, Universal Periodic Review) ☒ • Responding to communications (allegation letters, urgent appeals, questionnaires) from UN Special Procedures and/or hosting visits from UN Special Procedures ☒ • Reporting to Regional Human Rights Mechanisms ☒ • Follow-up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms (Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, Universal Periodic Review) ☒ • Implementation of recommendations from human rights mechanisms (including contributing to legislative changes) ☒ • Human rights education and training ☒

The Inter-Institutional Commission for the Follow-up and Implementation of International Human Rights Obligations engages with all UN human rights mechanisms as well as with the regional human rights system.

Process for the preparation of state reports

The primary channel of communication with the UN Human Rights System and the Inter-American Human Rights System is the Directorate General of Foreign Policy (DGPE) and the Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship.

• The DGPE, as the national coordinator of the Inter-Institutional Commission, receives documents and channels them to the rest of the Commission’s institutions. An analysis is conducted to identify the competent entities for each process, and based on that, official communications are addressed to institutional heads to begin coordination and/or obtain the necessary information.
• A roadmap is developed depending on the scope of the process and presented in advance to the full Commission for approval. Ad hoc sub-commissions are created for drafting specific reports.
• Collected information is systematized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the lead institution (e.g., the National Institute for Women for CEDAW, the National Child Welfare Agency for the Convention on the Rights of the Child).
• Information is validated through second rounds of consultation and presented to civil society based on a written participation and consultation mechanism jointly developed and approved.

The sub-commissions’ meeting frequency varies by process and depends on the timeline outlined in the roadmap, including any deadlines. Feedback and outcomes are typically shared after reports are submitted or following dialogues with the committees.

The national mechanism is composed of representatives from various public institutions within the Executive Branch and autonomous entities related to the implementation of human rights. In addition, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Legislative Assembly, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal participate as supporting institutions, while the Office of the Ombudsperson participates as a permanent observer. Coordination is therefore organized with each of these entities.

Linkages with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals The national mechanism participates in Voluntary National Review processes and coordination exists between the Inter-Institutional Commission and the SDG coordination mechanism, under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN). MIDEPLAN is also a member of the Inter-Institutional Commission.

Channel of communication with the National Statistics Office The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) is a permanent member of the Inter-Institutional Commission and is consulted during the process of preparing reports to treaty bodies.

Channel of communication with the Parliament The Legislative Assembly is a member of the Inter-Institutional Commission and has focal points who participate in the Commission’s work, appointed by the President of the Congress. Their contributions to reports are included either jointly or separately, depending on the recommendations from the respective treaty body or procedure.

Channel of communication with the Judiciary The Judiciary is a member of the Inter-Institutional Commission and has focal points who participate in the Commission’s work, appointed by the Supreme Court of Justice. Their contributions to reports are included either jointly or separately, depending on the recommendations of the relevant treaty body or mechanism.

Local and regional governments LRGs are not yet part of the mechanism. However, the State has made efforts to involve local governments in the implementation of the SDGs through the MIDEPLAN's program "Cantons Promoting the SDGs".

In some cases, organizations that bring together various municipal governments have been involved, such as the Institute for Municipal Development and Assistance and the National Union of Local Governments — but this is done on an ad hoc basis.

CONSULTATION

The Executive Decree establishing the Commission also provides for the creation of an Advisory Committee composed of representatives from academia, the National Human Rights Institution, and international organizations including from the UN System.

Additionally, the decree establishes the creation of a Permanent Consultation Body to ensure the direct and effective participation of civil society in the Commission’s work. This body was operationalized in 2018 and a mechanism for participation was co-developed and approved by both the State and civil society, organized under this body (EPC).

The National Recommendations Tracking Database was deployed in Costa Rica in 2025.

In terms of national action plans, Costa Rica has adopted the National Policy for a Society Free from Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Xenophobia 2014–2025.