U.S. Diplomatic Protest – Costa Rica & International Child Abduction

Jeremy D. Morley

In May 2021, U.S. Embassy San Jose delivered a formal diplomatic protest known as a “demarche” to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica concerning Costa Rica’s citation for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance in the 2021 Annual Report on International Child Abduction for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance during 2020.

Department officials raised continuing concerns with the Government of Costa Rica about the Costa Rican judiciary’s persistent failure to regularly implement and comply with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Specifically, the Department raised concerns with delays in the judicial process and Costa Rica’s compliance with the Convention.