About this Event
As fear of organized crime grows across Latin America, citizens are increasingly electing governments willing to trade civil liberties and democratic checks for the promise of security.
Responding to rising homicide rates and narco-trafficking, the new government in Costa Rica recently opened a mega-Pr*son modeled on that of El Salvador. The recent El Salvadoran playbook for cracking down on gang violence has included the suspension of constitutional rights, among other strongman tactics. Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, and Guatemala too have all declared various states of emergency permitting warrantless arrests and expanding the military’s role in domestic security.
When are such security tactics an abuse and consolidation of power and when might they make people safer? How can governments deliver on citizen security without dismantling the institutions and rights that protect them?
Join Perry World House for this timely discussion with former President Laura Chinchilla, who will discuss these trends and what they mean for democracy and human rights in Latin America and the world.
Speaker
Laura Chinchilla is a political scientist with a major in public policy. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Political Science at the University of Costa Rica and a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University.
She served as the President of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014. Previously, she held the positions of Vice President (2006-2008), Minister of Justice (2006-2008), Minister of Public Security (1996-1998), and member of Congress, where she chaired the Special Commission on Drug Trafficking and Security (2002-2006). Her presidency was marked by the promotion of policies aimed at enhancing citizen security, early childhood development, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, and the advancement of both high-performance and recreational sports.
Currently, she is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, the Leadership Alliance Club of Madrid, the Inter-American Dialogue, the Atlantic Council, the Concordia Summit, and the Euromerican Foundation. She serves as co-chair of the Advisory Council for the Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Program (HDR/UNDP) and as an advisor to regional organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Latin American Development Bank (CAF). Additionally, she is the president of the Club of Madrid and was appointed as the Permanent Observer of the International Olympic Committee to the United Nations.
She has been a visiting professor and fellow at various universities across the Americas, including Georgetown University, Florida International University, Cornell University, the University of São Paulo, and the Monterrey Institute of Technology. A columnist and lecturer, she has authored several publications, particularly on citizen security, democracy, and the rule of law.
She has received numerous distinctions, including honorary doctorates from Georgetown University (USA), the University of Peace (Costa Rica), Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (Japan), and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea).
Event venue & nearby stays
Perry World House, 3803 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, United States
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