A/HRC/13/15 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of Costa Rica Republic was held at the 14th meeting on 8 December 2009. The delegation of Costa Rica was headed by H.E. Mr. Bruno Stagno, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship. At its 17th meeting held on 11 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Costa Rica. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Costa Rica: United Kingdom, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Korea. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Costa Rica: (a) A national report submitted / written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/CRI/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/CRI/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/CRI/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Argentina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary, was transmitted to Costa Rica through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 14th meeting, on 8 December 2009, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica opened his statement, recalling that the National Report was the result of a broad process of consultation and dialogue, which began in October 2008 and involved 29 government bodies and 23 civil society organizations. 6. Costa Rica is the oldest democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean and has excellent human development indicators. Costa Rica abolished the army over 60 years ago and redirected resources towards social investment. The sustained growth in public expenditure over the last years has allowed for the continuous improvement in the living conditions of the population, as well as the construction of a solid institutional structure for the protection of human rights. This has been possible notwithstanding the difficulties resulting from being a middle-income developing country receiving scarce international cooperation. 7. The State provides basic health care, vaccination and emergency services for the entire population, whether or not they are insured. Costa Rica noted that education is free at the preschool, primary and secondary levels, as well as for special programmes for persons with disabilities, while public universities receive State subsidies. As stipulated in the Constitution, public expenditure in education must be more than six percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). In the national budget adopted for 2010, resources for education 3