Costa-Rica: The road to equality

United Nations, March 2009 - In 2001, governments from across the globe gathered at the UN World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, to take steps to battle racial discrimination. Eight years later, they'll meet again. And when they do, one Central American country, Costa Rica, will show that playing a role in politics does not have to be a distant dream for its minorities.

Script:
http://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/unia1175.pdf

Durban Review Conference website:
http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/index.shtml

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• United Nations
• UN
• Costa Rica
• Racism
• Racial Discrimination
• Minorities
• UN in action
• Human
• Rights

[karoslif]

its like blacks cant catch a break anywhere,not even in africa,what a racist world we live in.

[abdiottawa]

I've lived in CR, and I'm black myself. I know for sure Ticos are racist people. I lived there for about 2 yrs and met a lot of people. At the end I did not want have anything to do with the locals. However when they know I'm from Canada, they treat me well. I had my own business and did not want anything from anyone. I employed 8 Nicaraguans instead knowing they are nicer and hard-working people. Ticos are thieves and all want party at someone else's expense.

[zjones1222]

@ytertyu Epsy Cambell is not a candiate for the people and that is what will haunt her in her political career. Never should a candidate focus on race being a factor in gaining support. There are too many other issues to focus on that face Costa Rico partcularly unemployment. Unemployment in Costa Rico has had a 20 year high thus the people of Costa Rico are poor minus the tourism which means race is not a factor but a problem not high enough to be an issue concerning voters.

[emperor536]

@giltedged2 Your comment only shows that you know very little about the region, and spanish for that matter, her first language is spanish and carries a spanish accent. If your concept of spanish accent should be someone sounding like a mexican then you have a lot to learn, thus she wont speak english as clearly as an english speaker. and you are confsing Costa Rica with Panama (forget wikipedia) when west indians migrated to work on the canal, most of costa ricas blacks come from slavery

[Quranite]

Not to make differences but although these folks are hispanic now, there are native blacks from Costa Rica and sons and grandchildren of immigrants from English speaking nations. I've known Costa Ricans who do admit to the racism against Black costa ricans. Not to mention the racism in Mexico against black Mexicans. Then we can go to Columbia, Venezuela and continue on. I'm sure fighting for the equal rights of everyone is always a boon.

[giltedged2]

Is she Nigerian? Her English is halting and certainly her Spanish is very much a second language. Blacks who are only 3% of the population and were imported by the Banana companies virtually had their own independence in their area and like Haitians, Jamaicans etc never made much of it.

[zocurtis]

Awesome interview and great woman!

[maddawgy1234]

everywhere latinos are worst than the kkk

but poor as dirt

[lateesjp]

vote for her please

[ytertyu]

too much bullshit .. she just tries to make a name for herself .. Lives and rights of blacks in CR aren't bad at all comparing to other countries.