Programs
Despite Costa Rica’s reputation as having fewer problems than its neighbors, governance problems remain and public corruption is an ongoing concern.
In 2004, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office of the US Embassy in Costa Rica contracted ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) to undertake a targeted assessment of components of the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security and the Treasury Ministry (Ministerio de Hacienda) to determine the institutional capacity to establish and implement programs designed to confront internal institutional corruption.
Before ABA ROLI’s involvement, some events brought to public view serious allegations of corruption at the highest levels of government. These reinforced public perceptions that corruption was widespread and was eroding the government’s capacity to fully meet its responsibilities. Some elements of the government, especially the judicial structure, were viewed as capable of responding to the problem. ABA ROLI’s assessment outlined recommendations for technical assistance to targeted institutions of the government of Costa Rica to meet the overall objective of strengthening its capacity to address corruption within vulnerable governmental institutions.
Background
Costa Rica has long been viewed as a model for establishment of democratic institutions in Latin America. The country has enjoyed decades of peaceful and steady institutional and economic development free of much of the turbulence that has marked this period in many other Latin American countries. Costa Rica’s present Constitution dates to 1949 and has provided a framework for the development and implementation of many of the laws and regulations essential to good governance.
Yet despite this comparatively positive picture, governance problems remain and public corruption is perceived to be a growing concern. Increasingly, Costa Ricans believe that corruption is present in both the public and private sectors and is more than a haphazard or isolated practice. At present, however, at least some elements of the government, especially the judicial structure, continue to be viewed as capable of responding to the problem.
In this context, the United States Government (USG) contracted the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative’s Latin America and Caribbean Division to undertake a targeted assessment of components of the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security and the Treasury Ministry to determine the institutional capacity to establish and implement programs designed to confront internal institutional corruption.
