[{"bbox": [97, 152, 1134, 207], "category": "Text", "text": "for enhanced institutional capabilities and system reforms to adequately address the ongoing and increasing migration crisis."}, {"bbox": [97, 217, 1134, 457], "category": "Text", "text": "Costa Rica has also one of the highest rates of migrant population in Latin America.¹⁴ Historically, the migration of Nicaraguan citizens to Costa Rica was associated with seasonal economic opportunities (construction, agriculture) as well as permanent economic migration linked to the long-empoverished Nicaraguan economy, but also to political situations like the Somoza dictatorship and the Contra War. Nevertheless, the migratory dynamics were recently marked by the 2018 crisis, covid and the hurricanes Eta and Iota. After 2018, in addition to continued economic migration, a surge in asylum requests was observed from individuals who were forced to move, escaping political repression. Some of the people seeking international protection were students, youth, opposition leaders, and former political prisoners, many deprived of nationality, with restrictions in their travel movements or lacking documentation needed for establishing in the Country."}, {"bbox": [97, 468, 1134, 736], "category": "Text", "text": "The migrant population faces significant challenges such as the regularization of their migration status, access to basic services, barriers to access education, health, formal employment, limited access to the internet and digital technologies, which limits their development opportunities and professional growth. The lack of formal jobs and job insecurity are significant obstacles on their path to socioeconomic inclusion, such circumstances leave them vulnerable to discrimination, abuse, trafficking in human beings, exploitation, and marginalization. Furthermore, the fear of deportation, stemming from the lack of legal status, frequently inhibits these individuals from reporting violations of their rights, thereby hindering their access to essential human rights protections. Moreover, migrants who often arrive with limited resources and in precarious situations, are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and the adverse effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events and agricultural disruptions. Increasing citizen insecurity and crime also have a strong impact on Nicaraguan migrants."}, {"bbox": [97, 747, 1134, 1013], "category": "Text", "text": "The host communities in central and northern part of the country where the majority of the Nicaraguan most vulnerable migrants are located, suffer of high levels of poverty and socioeconomic inequality. This is aggravated by the migration crisis which poses additional strain on their resources and services. Migrants, especially women, live in precarious conditions and face difficulties in accessing basic services such as health, education and employment. Migration has a disproportional impact on women, youth and girls, who are at a heightened risk of being victims of violence, trafficking in human beings, labour and sexual exploitation and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Migrant women encounter an additional disadvantage associated with the disproportionate burden of care and domestic work. Furthermore, there are other groups in highly vulnerable situation among the migrants such as stateless, LGBTQ+, persons with disabilities, children and older adults, indigenous and vulnerable young people in working age, who need special assistance and protection."}, {"bbox": [97, 1024, 1134, 1105], "category": "Text", "text": "Given the high number of forcibly displaced people and migrants in Costa Rica, the efforts made to build resilience of affected communities and to create a peaceful environment, have not been enough, resulting in secondary and tertiary displacement, which contributes to enhance vulnerabilities."}, {"bbox": [97, 1116, 1134, 1382], "category": "Text", "text": "The government of Costa Rica has made recent changes to the migration policy and the international protection system in force in the country, limiting the refugee system as a measure to manage the crisis. Particularly through the issuance of two executive decrees: i) decree 43810-MGP that restricts access to the refugee system to avoid “abuses” of economic migrants through the international protection system; and ii) decree 43809-MGP, which creates a temporary special category for Nicaraguan, Venezuelan and Cuban migrants.\nNevertheless, it is deemed that restrictive measures will increase pressure on aid programs and could lead to a humanitarian crisis. Judicial appeals have been filed before the Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica alleging the unconstitutionality of said regulations (17 appeals have already been declared admissible by the court). Denoting that immediate funds and interventions are necessary to safeguard the protection and refugee system based on human rights that has historically characterized Costa Rica."}, {"bbox": [97, 1393, 1134, 1555], "category": "Text", "text": "Costa Rica together with UNHCR, and the UN Agencies as well as the Commission (EU Humanitarian Office-DG ECHO), Member States and other relevant stakeholders have made important efforts to support the country to receive and integrate migrant population through humanitarian assistance programs, by supporting the asylum system, providing livelihood and opportunities to the most vulnerable, in coordination with local actors, including civil society and the private sector, thus seeking to respond to the enormous challenges and demands for international protection of refugees and asylum seekers. However, the country's efforts have been overwhelmed,"}, {"bbox": [86, 1596, 1143, 1643], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁴ According to the study “The state of Costa Rica's migration and integration policy”, carried out by Migration Policy Institute, 2021."}, {"bbox": [1027, 1655, 1143, 1681], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 25"}]