Presidents Nayib Bukele and Rodrigo Chavez. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves presented Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele with the highest distinction awarded by the Costa Rican nation to foreign heads of state.
Bukele was awarded the Juan Mora Fernández National Order in the Degree of Grand Cross Gold Plate, the highest decoration that Costa Rica grants to foreign leaders.
The award, given to Bukele for his administration’s security achievement, was presented at the Costa Rican Presidential House during the first day of President Bukele’s state visit to Costa Rica.
President Bukele assumed the responsibility and great challenge of leading his nation in very difficult times. He has earned the recognition of the Salvadoran people and the world community for a very specific reason: rescuing his country from the infamy of gang violence and organized crime. Rodrigo Chaves, President of Costa Rica.
In this sense, “Without a doubt, the rescue of El Salvador from these nefarious clutches is also helping peace in the region. The fight against organized crime anywhere in Central America is welcome,” remarked President Chaves.
President Chaves, as well as many officials of his government, have praised the security policies implemented by the Bukele administration since June 2019 to combat gangs.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Homicide Rate
Homicide Reduction
Nayib Bukele’s security measures have brought remarkable change to El Salvador, dramatically reducing crime rates and improving public safety.
His aggressive anti-gang policies and enhanced policing strategies have reshaped the country’s image, earning both regional praise and international attention.
El Salvador ended 2023 with the lowest homicide rate in Latin America; it ended with 140 homicides for a rate of 2.4 murders per 100,000 people.
While El Salvador has drastically reduced its crime and violence, Costa Rica has experienced a rise in violence over the past few years.
Costa Rica, once known for its low crime and relative peace, has been plagued by rising violence in recent years.
Last year, Costa Rica reached a record high of 904 homicides, equating to a rate of 17.2 murders per 100,000 people. Although this year, the country is on track for a lower total than in 2023, the number remains significantly higher than what the “Pura Vida” nation has seen in the past.
SEE ALSO: Costa Rica Homicide Rate
President Bukele responded to criticism of his approach by reiterating a stance he has expressed before “Protecting the right to life through reducing violence must come before other rights can be upheld.”
“All other rights are meaningless if there’s no right to life. There’s no right to free movement if I’m dead,” Bukele said.” Bukele stated that the government must ensure citizens’ right to life, and to do so, it has to pursue criminals. “There is no other way,” remarked Bukele.
