SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves further restricted access to abortion Wednesday, limiting it to situations when the mother’s life is in danger.
The country's previous regulations also allowed abortions if a pregnancy posed a threat to the mother’s health. No legislative approval was required for the change.
In making the rule change through the Health Ministry, Chaves made good on a promise he had given religious conservatives at the Evangelical Alliance earlier this month.
“Today the only reason for which an abortion can be done without penalty is when there are only two options: the mother’s life or the life of the being that is inside,” Chaves said during a news conference.
While abortion access has advanced in recent years in some of Latin America's largest countries, including Mexico and Argentina, Central American governments have maintained strong restrictions. Countries including Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have total bans, while Guatemala allows for abortion when the mother's life is at risk.
The Evangelical Alliance celebrated Chaves' change in a statement. “This is an opportunity to unite around a universal principle: the value of all human life,” said alliance President Pastor Ronald Vargas.
But those who support abortion access were quick to see a political deal ahead of next year’s presidential elections in February. Chaves cannot run for reelection but is supporting his party’s candidate.
“Unfortunately, once again it’s the women and people with the ability to bear children who have to carry the weight that they negotiate our rights in exchange for obtaining votes or appealing to conservative groups,” said Laura Valenciano, a human rights advocate with the nongovernmental organization Citizen Association ACCEDER, which stands for Strategic Actions for Human Rights.
Costa Rica has long banned most abortions with some exceptions. These were not clearly defined until a rule in 2019 said that an abortion could be carried out if the mother’s health was at risk.
Valenciano said that she was not aware of an abortion carried out under that exception during Chaves’ presidency. She called on him to provide data.
“The people would see they're making a smoke screen and distracting us from very important issues,” Valenciano said.
Chaves was viewed with skepticism by some women when he ran for president in 2022. The World Bank found that the conservative economist had sexually harassed various women while he was employed there, and he was eventually sanctioned for misconduct, demoted and pushed out. He has continually denied the allegations.
FILE - Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves gives a joint news conference with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the presidential palace in San Jose, Costa Rica, June 25, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Pool Photo via AP, File)
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — JuJu Watkins made the most of her brief trip to the USA Basketball senior national team camp.
While she wasn't able to participate in the on-court activities because the Southern California star is still recovering from an ACL injury she suffered last March, Watkins saw the invitation as an opportunity to grow her leadership abilities.
“It’s enough just being (here) and feeling the energy, that’s mostly what I’ve picked up on,” the reigning AP Player of the Year said. “Hearing everyone’s voices, the communications, the leadership, it’s something that you can see automatically. It brings up your standards, so I’ll definitely be taking some of these lessons back to USC to continue to grow as a leader and a player.”
Watkins was able to get up a few stationary shots with coaches after practice was over, which was a positive step in her rehab.
“Whatever I can do, I am trying to maximize that,” she said.
Watkins had announced in September that she would miss the entire college season to give her full attention to rehab. She said Friday that she had tried to put off the decision whether to play for as long as possible, but in the end she “had to come to terms with where I was at. Getting over that mental curve has been the biggest thing."
U.S. coach Kara Lawson said it was important that Watkins, who will be a vital part of the team in the future, to attend the camp.
“We wanted her here ... I think you can see that there’s a great deal of talent there, and that’s somebody that is going to be in the conversation, obviously, in the future,” Lawson said. “We were really intentional about inviting her here and having her be a part of it. I think there’s great value in having her observe and be around the group, and then just the connectivity."
Watkins was only around on Thursday and Friday because she returned to Los Angeles for the 16th-ranked Trojans' game against No. 1 UConn on Saturday.
Being at camp gave her a chance to connect in person with Paige Bueckers. Watkins said Bueckers has been great in helping her with her ACL rehab. Bueckers missed the 2022-23 season with her own ACL tear.
“She’s been checking on me every couple months. Great person,” Watkins said. "So to be here with her, and see her kill it, and see her on the other side of it, it’s very inspiring. She’s just helped me throughout the process of sending the texts, checking in on me, that’s meant a great deal.”
Watkins said she had always wanted to be part of the senior team. The Olympics are in her hometown of Los Angeles in 2028.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to be in this atmosphere, so to live out those dreams, even though it looks different, I’m still blessed to be here,” she said.
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Juju Watkins speaks to the media after a training camp for the U.S women's national basketball team, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
