Costa Rica’s foreign policy is based on principles that include the promotion of peace and peaceful societies as well as human rights, the rule of law, end of impunity and responsibility to protect. Is in this vein that Costa Rica recognizes the importance of post-conflict reconciliation efforts in societies, transitional justice and upstream prevention efforts, as well as the primary responsibility of States to protect their populations from the most serious crimes.
Costa Rica also holds a principled position with cooperation with international criminal law and its institutions, such as the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court, and engages in discussions with respect to protection of civilians in conflict.
Costa Rica was a founding member of GAAMAC and part of the Steering Group since its creation. Its current representative there has been involved in the organization of GAAMAC’s Global Meetings in 2018 (GAAMAC III) and 2021 (GAAMAC IV).
“I hold GAAMAC close to my heart because it was during its Global Meeting that I had the first contact with other civil servants, academics and civil society organizations working directly on issues relating to mass atrocity prevention. That is when I came to understand the role my country can play to strengthen the prevention mandate.”
