Five Women Accuse Costa Rican Nobel Laureate Arias of Misconduct – Reuters

SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Additional allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged against Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. Five women have accused him of harassment or assault, marking a significant moment in the #MeToo movement across Latin America.

These allegations pose a serious threat to the reputation of the two-time president, who is celebrated as one of Latin America’s most distinguished statesmen and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts in mediating civil war resolutions in the region.

Alexandra Arce, an anti-nuclear activist, was the first to speak out, prompting what has rapidly become a high-profile instance of the #MeToo movement in Latin America, where advocates have primarily focused on combating violence against women and femicide.

Arias has denied the allegations made by Arce through his legal representative. On Thursday, his lawyer stated that Arias would not comment on the following allegations.

Arce’s courage in coming forward inspired others to share their experiences, including Emma Daly, communications director for an international human rights organization. Daly recounted an incident from 1990 when Arias approached her and a group of journalists in a hotel lobby in Managua, Nicaragua. After she posed a question, Arias allegedly reached forward, touched her chest, and made a remark about her not wearing a bra. “I was left completely stunned, and the only thing I could say was, ‘Yes I am,’” Daly recalled.

At that time, Daly was freelancing for several media outlets. She emphasized that Arias’s impressive credentials did not excuse his behavior toward others.

Reports indicate that Daly recounted the incident to her then-boyfriend shortly after it happened and shared it with her husband years later.

Eleonora Antillon, who served as a press aide during Arias’s 1986 presidential campaign, alleged that he groped her and attempted to kiss her when she resisted. “When I saw how lawyers and some women were doubting (Arce), I decided to support her, and I said, ‘I believe her because he did something similar to me years ago,’” Antillon told reporters.

Marta Araya Marroni, involved in publishing, claimed that during a 2012 meeting, Arias inappropriately grabbed her leg and made suggestive remarks in subsequent phone conversations. Similarly, journalist Monica Morales reported that after an interview in 2013, Arias invited her to sit on his lap.

While Arce, Araya Marroni, and Morales did not provide comments for this report, Arias’s lawyer mentioned that the Costa Rican prosecutor’s office had only received one formal complaint against him, which was confirmed by the office.

“We respect the statements of these individuals in the media and on social networks,” the lawyer stated.