Reflexiones Journal

Towards Equal Opportunities: The Municipality of Goicoechea and the National Disability Policy 2011-2030

Jovanna Cruz Astorga — 2025-02-20

Introduction: The Local Equal Opportunity Policy of the Municipality of Goicoechea responds to the institutional demand placed in the National Disability Policy (PONADIS) 2011-2030, to continue the work for the inclusion of people with disabilities in society and the elimination of barriers to their full participation.

Objective: To describe the existing link between the approach to disabilities in the various population groups of the canton of Goicoechea, the actions of its municipality and the guidelines established in the PONADIS 2011-2030.

Method and technique: Structured interviews were applied to a sample of seven strategic officials in terms of the PLEO of the Municipality of Goicoechea; in addition to content analysis and non-participant observation. The data were analyzed according to an exploratory qualitative approach, in order to know the form and nature of the social reality of people with disabilities in the canton.

Results: a) Coherence and efficiency in the local management of resources, knowledge and approach to the needs of people with disabilities were identified, as well as, b) the congruence between the fundamental axes, goals and objectives of the PONADIS 2011-2030 with the municipal management of social services.

Conclusion: The process demonstrated the efforts made in the actions linking the local approach to disabilities and PONADIS.

Vertical housing and sense of community: Almendares in Sagrada Familia

Valeria Jesús Cubillo Monge — 2025-02-25

Introduction: This research was carried out between March and November of the year 2023 in the Almendares I condominium and the Sagrada Familia neighborhood, San José, Costa Rica. The argument of the research is that the institutional planification that Almendares I had negatively affects the sense of community between the Almendares I and Sagrada Familia’s inhabitants.

Objective: Establish the planification of the condominium’s incidence exercised by the institutions on the sense of community of the Almendares I´s inhabitants towards the Sagrada Familia neighborhood.

Method and technique: A qualitative methodology was used, with which semi-structured interviews and focus groups were carried out. Eight interviews were done with Almendares I’s population, eight with the Sagrada Familia neighborhood population, one focus group, and, additionally, a MIVAH civil servant was interviewed.

Result: The perceptions that the neighborhood’s inhabitants have towards the condominium and the prejudices that the Almendares I’s inhabitants had towards the neighborhood affects the integration between both populations, which has avoided the generation of attachment towards the neighborhood.

Conclusions: It was determined that the way in which the MIVAH planned the Almendares I condominium has had a negative impact on its inhabitants’ sense of community towards the Sagrada Familia neighborhood.

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Manabí (Ecuador): Vulnerability and Actions for Safeguarding

Blanca Enith Mendoza-Mendoza — 2025-03-24

Introduction: The research focuses on the preparation of an inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Manabí, with the objective of documenting and preserving its tangible and intangible heritage.

Main objective: Promote the development of authentic and sustainable tourist experiences through the preservation and documentation of the ICH of Manabí.

Method and technique: Two main tools were used: first, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) instructions for registration and inventory forms, and second, Georeferencing Systems (GIS) along with the SURVEY 123 application, which facilitated data collection using smart digital forms.

Results: A database of ICH georeferencing and a proposal for actions for its safeguarding and sustainable tourism development, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Conclusion: This work serves as a guide to protect and promote the cultural expressions of Manabí, guaranteeing their appreciation for future generations and promoting economic development and interculturality. The connection between preservation and sustainable tourism is key to this objective.

Technology and gender violence. A study in two schools in Costa Rica

Daniel Fernández Fernández — 2025-02-20

Introduction: This article reflects how the rise of information and communication technologies have come to occupy a central role in social relationships amongst adolescents, as well as in the continuation of gender violence from online spaces to offline spaces in the context of romantic relationships.

Objective: Study the manifestation of gender violence in adolescent romantic relationships and their relation with the use of information and communication technologies in two public schools in Costa Rica during 2022.

Methodology: A descriptive quantitative strategy has been developed, which uses frequency analysis of the main variables under study.

Results: The results coincide with other research in this area which indicates that social networks constitute one of the principal means of socialization amongst adolescents. On the other hand, the data shows that digital media is of great importance when it comes to establishing romantic relationships. Finally, the responses provided by the people surveyed make it possible to identify various situations of violence that occur, whether in romantic relationships between adolescents or in romantic relationships between an adolescent and an adult.

Conclusions: These results, even if they cannot be generalized to all adolescents, coincide with the prevalence rates of gender violence across virtual media as shown by different research carried out in other contexts.

Post-truth and misleading narratives: consequences for Costa Rican democracy (2022-2024)

Wilson Hernández Arroyo — 2025-02-25

Introduction: This essay explores the impact of post-truth and disinformation on Costa Rican democracy during the 2022-2024 period. It analyzes the false statements and misleading narratives of President Rodrigo Chaves and his team, focusing on how these distort public perception and affect democratic institutions.

Objective: To analyze how disinformation emanating from the Executive Branch has influenced democratic stability and citizen participation, highlighting the different types of disinformation used.

Method: A content analysis of the Costa Rican government's public statements, extracted from the national press, was carried out, organizing the falsehoods into categories according to their type (false content, misleading, false context, among others). Surveys and opinion studies were also consulted to contextualize the impact of these narratives.

Results: The analysis reveals a deliberate pattern of disinformation used to influence public opinion. Despite the exposure of falsehoods, popular support for the president remained stable, reflecting the power of disinformation in solidifying political narratives.

Conclusions: It is concluded that disinformation issued from high levels of government represents a significant challenge to Costa Rican democracy. Information literacy is crucial in combating this phenomenon, enabling citizens to make informed decisions and protect democratic integrity.

Indigenous local governments: housing, challenges and contradictions (Costa Rica, 2023)

Marisol Jiménez Muñoz — 2025-02-20

Introduction: the Integral Indigenous Development Associations (ADII) serve as Local Governments for indigenous territories; this article exposes the particularities and complexities that arise from this role, as well as their involvement with the National Housing and Human Settlements Policy 2013-2030 regarding indigenous housing.

Main objective: to analyze the Integral Indigenous Development Associations (ADII) and their link to the National Housing and Human Settlements Policy 2013-2030.

Method and technique: a qualitative research approach was employed, combining semi-structured interviews conducted in 2023 with five experts in the field and six members of indigenous communities (primary sources), the use of institutional sources from the Comisión Nacional de Asuntos Indígenas (CONAI), and an extensive search of relevant literature (secondary sources).

Results: numerous contradictions are evident between what the ADII are supposed to achieve and what they can accomplish, as not all have the necessary economic and/or technical resources for their assigned responsibilities. Most of the interviewees did not feel fully identified with the housing vouchers, leading them to make modifications to them.

Conclusion: the Integral Indigenous Development Associations (ADII) face daily challenges, mostly stemming from contradictions arising from their state-imposed role as representatives of indigenous territories without prior consultation. This reveals the need to carefully consider the process of representation and consultation in the development of indigenous policies.

Life Experiences in the Informal Settlement of Martina Bustos in Liberia, Guanacaste (1940-2020)

Irene María Baltodano-Rodríguez — 2025-02-27

Introduction: This article examines the life experiences of the inhabitants of the informal settlement of Martina Bustos in Liberia, Guanacaste. It explores their childhood, family background, and current circumstances in terms of education, employment, and economy, as well as their daily dynamics in a community with limited access to basic services.

Objective: To highlight the communal and personal experiences of the inhabitants of the Martina Bustos informal settlement, considering social and structural conditions regarding basic rights from 1940 to 2020.

Method and technique: Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with five men and seven women aged 26 to 83. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for content. Confidentiality and anonymity were ensured through signed agreements detailing the study’s objectives and participants' rights.

Results: Residents of the Martina Bustos informal settlement face challenges stemming from impoverished backgrounds, reflected in limited education, economic instability, and restricted access to basic services. Community organizations play a crucial role in mitigating these inequalities.