Costa Rica News -It is flat out amazing to me to see the USA stretch out it long reaching arms of control to address issues in foreign countries when it has 100’s of problems on it’s home soil on which it could concentrate.
There are some problems in the world that can be addressed on a larger scale but that was why the United Nations was created. One of the UN’s primary purposes is “promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”, and member states pledge to undertake “joint and separate action” to protect these rights.
The US Department of State has listed some grave human rights abuses of prison inmates in Costa Rica, in a 2013 report that was published on Thursday. It stated that overcrowding was at 38%, while it is recommended that it not exceed 20%.
The number of prisoners has led to inadequate sanitation and medical care. In addition, it has caused an increase in violence and a decrease in control and administrative support. Another inadequate aspect is the sleeping mats, which are deteriorated. Drug use was also observed.
The San Sebastian prison is the most overcrowded. Judge Roy Murillo just ordered the relocation of 370 defendants who were sentenced there to other prisons. In the longer term, the Inter-American Development Bank will loan $132 million to construct additional prisons that can hold 550 inmates in Nicoya and 800 additional inmates in La Reforma.
Some say it’s not enough. There are 150 people added to the system weekly, and the system is above max capacity. They’d have to build a jail every other month to keep up. Many agree that a discussion on the punitive policy and use and period of detention is necessary.
Yes these are problems that need to be addressed, but they need to be addressed and taken care of within the borders of Costa Rica and they are already implementing measures.
The USA needs to focus on it’s own problems.
