Another feather in Costa Rica’s cap…the accolades never end

The highest rated country in America for freedom of expression and human rights, constitutes an exception in a region corroded by corruption, insecurity and daily violence against the press. Mexico, Colombia, Panama and other so-called retirement havens simply cannot make these claims.

QCOSTARICA – Costa Rica is first in America and fifth in the World in terms of freedom of the press indicates the Data of press freedom ranking 2021 annual report by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) – Reporters Without Borders.

“The Latin American country with the best record on respecting human rights and freedom of expression, Costa Rica is a remarkable exception in a region characterized by corruption, violent crime and constant violence against the media. Journalists are free to work and progressive legislation regulates the freedom to inform.

“Cases of attacks, threats or other forms of intimidation of journalists are rare, as is state interference in the media’s work, even if access to state-held information is sometimes complicated. Ownership of Costa Rica’s media is nonetheless concentrated in very few hands, limiting media pluralism to a significant degree.

“Corruption, impunity, cyber-surveillance and government violence – violations of freedom of information take many different forms in this vast region. Mexican, Honduran, Colombian and Brazilian journalists sometimes pay with their lives for investigating drug trafficking or corruption. Cuban and Venezuelan journalists are under constant pressure from governments that use all possible means to censor independent media outlets. Journalists in the United States cannot freely cover stories linked to surveillance or espionage,” the report summarizes.

Journalists in COSTA RICA can safely exercise their profession and have a solid legal framework regarding freedom of expression

The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2021 World Press Freedom Index shows decline across the board in Latin America. With a few exceptions, the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated an already complex and hostile environment for journalists.

It also highlights that Costa Rica does not register murders of journalists or citizen journalists this year.

The world leader in press freedom is Norway, while Eritrea, a northeast African country on the Red Sea coast, is last among 180 countries analyzed.

The RSF index assesses factors such as freedom in the exercise of the profession, censorship, or violent acts, finding that journalism is totally or partially blocked in 73% of the countries.

Here for the RSF press freedom ranking 2021 report

The top 5 countries with greater freedom of the press:

1. Norway
2. Finland
3. Sweden
4. Denmark
5. Costa Rica

Top 5 countries in Latin America with greater freedom of the press (Global position)

1. Costa Rica (5)
2. Uruguay (18)
3. Dominican Republic (50)
4. Chile (54)
5. Argentina (69)