Comisión Permanente Especial de Derechos Humanos, 12 febrero 2026

Session Initiation and Agenda Overview

Opening of the Session

• The session begins at 13:19 with a quorum present, marking the start of the 15th ordinary session of the Special Permanent Commission on Human Rights.

• Deputy Cinnia Córdoba is appointed to assist in the secretariat for this session. Discussion and approval of previous minutes are confirmed as sufficiently discussed and approved.

Internal Affairs and Correspondence

• There are no internal regime matters or motions submitted via Article 137 during this session. Correspondence has been sent to relevant emails.

Discussion of Legislative Projects

Project on Right to the City

• The first project discussed is File 24,551, which focuses on protecting and guaranteeing the right to the city. It is assigned to Subcommittee One led by Deputy Monserrat Ruiz Guevara until April 30, 2026.

Protection of Minors Legislation

• Next is File 24,628 concerning comprehensive protection for minors, specifically prohibiting gender change surgeries and hormonal treatments. This project goes to Subcommittee Two with Deputy Andrea Álvarez Marín as coordinator until April 30, 2026.

Migration Management Due to Climate Change

• File 24,665 addresses migration management due to climate change with a human rights focus; it will be handled by Subcommittee Three under coordination from an unnamed deputy until April 30, 2026. A motion for consultation regarding this file is presented by Deputy Antonio Ortega Gutiérrez.

Consultation Motion Details

• The consultation motion requests input from various institutions including:

• Defensoría de los Habitantes de la República

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• National Emergency Commission

• Several universities and organizations related to climate change and migration issues.

This motion is sufficiently discussed before moving into voting procedures.

Voting Outcomes

Approval of Consultation Motion

• Voting concludes with four deputies present; four votes in favor lead to the approval of the consultation motion regarding File 24,665.

Review Motion Rejection

• A review motion concerning prior voting results on this consultation was proposed but ultimately rejected with zero votes in favor out of five present deputies after discussion and voting procedures were completed.

Further Legislative Discussions

Conscience Objection Legislation

• Discussion moves onto File 24,788 regarding legislation for conscience objection; it will also be assigned to Subcommittee Two until April 30, 2026.

Front Labeling Law Proposal

• Another significant proposal discussed is File 24,840 about front labeling laws for food products containing nutritional warnings; it too will go under Subcommittee Two's purview until April 30, 2026.

A motion requesting an audience involving various industry representatives was made by Deputy Melina Joy Palma and subsequently approved after sufficient discussion followed by a vote showing unanimous support among present deputies (four votes).

Final Motions and Recess

Additional Review Motions

• Further review motions related to previous discussions were introduced but faced rejection again due to lack of support during voting processes (zero votes in favor). The chair then called for a brief recess before resuming discussions on additional proposals including another audience request from Deputy Cinnia Córdoba regarding industry representation related to food labeling laws.

These discussions continue post-recess following procedural norms established earlier in the session.( t =737 s )

Voting Process and Legislative Discussions

Approval of Audience Motion

• The voting process for the audience motion commenced, resulting in five present deputies, four votes in favor, and one against. The motion was approved.

Review Motion Discussion

• A review motion was introduced by Deputy Melina Joy regarding the previous vote on the front labeling law (Expediente 24,840). The discussion on this review motion began.

Rejection of Review Motion

• Voting concluded with five present deputies, zero votes in favor, and five against; thus, the review motion was rejected. Deputy Andrea expressed her dissenting vote as a form of protest despite knowing it would pass.

Justification for Dissenting Vote

• Deputy Andrea justified her opposition to the CIA motion due to ongoing criticisms from UCAEP and the Chamber of Industries against her project. She emphasized that while debate is essential in democracy, personal attacks questioning her professional ethics are unacceptable.

Defense Against Personal Attacks

• Andrea highlighted that she has been subjected to repeated criticisms over ten years regarding labeling projects and noted a recent communication that undermined several deputies' integrity. She defended her stance based on support from academic institutions like UNICEF and WHO rather than private sector interests.

Call for Objective Debate

• Deputy Cinnia Córdoba agreed with Andrea's perspective on needing objective opinions during debates, emphasizing the importance of considering various viewpoints from academia, NGOs, and industry stakeholders when discussing legislation. She criticized direct attacks made by Juan Ignacio from the Chamber of Food Industries without prior engagement or understanding of their positions.

Demand for Accountability

• Cinnia called for Juan Ignacio to justify his statements publicly and retract any unfounded claims made about them as legislators who base decisions on scientific evidence deserve respect in discussions about health-related laws. She expressed concern over potential legal implications stemming from his comments.

Solidarity Among Deputies

• Deputy Ortega expressed solidarity with both Andrea and others who faced personal attacks during discussions, stating he might have reconsidered his vote had he known about these issues beforehand. He acknowledged Andrea's commitment to health initiatives across various sectors throughout her legislative career.

Discussion on Legislative Proposals in Costa Rica

Overview of Legislative Proposals

• The session begins with a note of respect for high-level debate, expressing solidarity with Deputy Álvarez regarding the discussion on legislative matters.

• Proposal 25,028, concerning the "Law for Democratic Marine Governance in Costa Rica," is assigned to Subcommittee 1 until April 30, 2026. A motion for an extension is presented by Deputy Cintia Córdoba.

Motion Discussions and Voting Outcomes

• The motion to extend the deadline for proposal 25,028 is discussed and voted upon; it passes unanimously with six votes in favor and none against.

• A revision motion regarding the previous vote on proposal 25,028 is introduced by Deputy Melina Joy Palma but fails with zero votes in favor.

New Legislative Proposal: Day of Political Assassinations

• Proposal 25,359 aims to declare December 19 as National Day of Political Assassinations. It is assigned to Subcommittee 2S until April 30, 2026.

• A motion from Deputy Antonio Ortega Gutiérrez requests consultations with various academic and civic organizations regarding this proposal.

Approval of Consultation Motion

• The consultation motion related to proposal 25,359 receives approval after sufficient discussion and voting; it passes unanimously.

Revision Motion Rejected Again

• Another revision motion concerning the consultation vote on proposal 25,359 is introduced but also fails with no support from present deputies.

Investigative Proposal on Women's Policies

• Discussion shifts to investigative proposal 25,068 focused on public policy implementation aimed at improving conditions for women heads of households. Pending hearings are noted as part of this investigation.