“Respect: NO to Racism” Campaign

In Costa Rica, since 2014, the "Respect: NO to Racism" campaign has been underway, aiming to eliminate racism, discrimination, and intolerance at sports events, particularly in the national football championship. The initiative was originally driven by the Afro-Costa Rican Women's Center in collaboration with the office of former Congresswoman Epsy Campbell Bar, along with the participation of the Union of First Division Football Clubs (UNAFUT).

For eight consecutive editions, as part of the celebrations for the Day of Black People and Afro-Costa Rican Culture and the International Day of Afrodescendants, this campaign has promoted values in sports events, primarily respect. Players from the 12 first division football clubs of Costa Rica wore a t-shirt with the message of the campaign. Banners and short speeches from each team´s respective captains were also part of the campaign.

During its execution, the campaign made significant alliances with private and public companies, civil society organizations, and international cooperation agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Blacks at Microsoft (BAM), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), among many others.

Additionally, the campaign promoted the establishment of code of conduct and the application of disciplinary measures in cases of racism, as well as support for victims of racism in the field. Due to these advocacy efforts, Costa Rica passed a Law Against Violence and Racism in Sport, which proposes the creation at the national level, of a system for education, prevention, and sanctioning of acts of racist violence in competitive sports events.

The Global Coalition Against Systemic Racism has driven the internationalization of this experience, sharing it in various international forums, and adding new partners in the implementation of national chapters.

In November 2022, an event focused on racism in football was held as part of the UNESCO Global Forum against Racism, where former Mexican football referee, Adalid Maganda, was named as the global ambassador of the campaign, in recognition of the bravery and courage shown during his professional career, where he was a victim of regrettable acts of racism and discrimination.