CASE STUDY: EXILED NICARAGUAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN COSTA RICA Strategic Recommendations for Programming I t is essential that the need for a sustainable strategy and programs to support Nicaraguan HRDs and CSOs in Costa Rica. Nicaraguan HRDs in Costa Rica expressed their desire to continue promoting and defending human rights of their compatriots back home as well as the rights of others in their host country of Costa Rica. There are already some programs and initiatives in Costa Rica, many funded by international donor organizations. The recommendations presented in this section are meant to be complementary to existing initiatives, and should help donors, international organizations, and the government to establish programmatic and funding priorities; identify coordination mechanisms; and find appropriate entry points for supporting HRDs. One of the most important activities or options is the need to identify appropriate methodologies to assess and measure quantitatively and qualitatively the impact of programs and activities. The following are some strategic recommendations for future programming based on our findings from the case study. Strengthening the Protection Ecosystem for HRDs in Exile Local NGOs and CSOs and international organizations should take the lead and coordinate efforts. Illustrative Activities • Promote comprehensive support responses that start from the recognition of urgent and strategic needs and incorporate aspects such as: • Health care • Psychological attention • Assistance in regularization of stay in the host country • Training and capacity building • Recreational and occupational therapy activities 18 @FreedomHouse • Plans for digital, physical, and legal security, among others • Social integration activities that include cultural education of the host country • Engage in policy dialogue with key stakeholders. For comprehensive support actions to be effective, it is necessary that the work be carried out with various actors: • HRDs • Nicaraguan exiles and migrants • Costa Rican CSOs that work with HRDs • Universities • International aid organizations (donors) • Municipalities and local authorities of the communities with the greatest agglomeration of exiles and migrants • Government institutions that interact with HRDs • Promote a deeper reflection and understanding of HRDs in exile. • Support research efforts to understand better the HRD community and its needs, to counteract perceptions that HRDs are a uniform and homogenous community and provide inputs for a not “one size fits all” strategy and response. • Develop short- and medium-term strategies to support HRDs that go beyond physical relocation and assume no immediate return. • Explore ways to expand shelters to support integrated approaches that include psychological, digital, and physical security, as well as capacity building and employment referral. If needed, support should include the safe return of those HRDs who want to return to their country of origin. Approach should also include support for basic needs that include shelter, food, immigration regularization, health, and education, among others.