In July 2023, the Multilateral Chamber of Commerce and Cooperation Israel Ibero-America (now the Israel Ibero-America Chamber of Commerce), CILIB, and Costa Rica’s Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoría de los Habitantes) signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement. The agreement seeks to establish and strengthen a relationship of friendship between the two institutions and to foster collaboration on human rights and corporate responsibility.
What Costa Rica’s Ombudsman’s Office is
The Ombudsman’s Office is the Costa Rican institution responsible for protecting the rights and interests of the country’s inhabitants with regard to the actions of the public sector. It was created in 1992 by Law 7319 and is attached to the Legislative Assembly.
Human rights cooperation between Costa Rica and the Israeli private sector
The signing ceremony highlighted the need to promote and develop reciprocal cooperation between Costa Rica and the Israeli private sector in the field of human rights. Both parties committed to working together on projects focused on this area.
The agreement will make it possible to reinforce, within each party’s respective sphere, the commitment to protecting human dignity and to the universal principles that govern human rights.
In addition to establishing a basis for cooperation, the agreement seeks to facilitate and encourage relationships of mutual support in initiatives and projects that foster a culture of respect for human rights in both countries. The partnership aims to promote dialogue and collaboration among experts, government institutions and non-governmental organizations, and to raise awareness of human rights in public policy and civil society.
Exchange between Israel and Costa Rica
The agreement underscores the importance of creating spaces for exchange between Israel and Costa Rica that allow innovative approaches and effective solutions in the defense and promotion of human rights to be shared. This collaboration is expected to have a positive impact on the communities of both countries and to foster a culture of active protection and promotion of human rights.
Seminars, workshops and forums on human rights
CILIB and the Ombudsman’s Office will work on organizing seminars, workshops and forums on key issues such as:
- Gender equality.
- Freedom of expression.
- Social inclusion.
- Access to justice.
These activities will seek to strengthen local capacities in implementing human rights-based public policies and to promote the exchange of ideas and strategies among experts and leaders from both countries.
CILIB and cooperation with Costa Rica
With this Framework Agreement, CILIB reaffirms its mission of building partnerships that have a positive impact on the communities it serves. Both institutions hope that the agreement will strengthen ties between Costa Rica and Israel and open up new opportunities for cooperation. See CILIB’s cooperation agreements, the Costa Rica country profile and the information about the Chamber.
