Costa Rica has been the model country that others aspire to be. The literacy rate stands at 96 percent, it abolished its army in 1949, it is considered the greenest country in the world, it plans to be the first carbon-neutral country by 2021, and 23 percent of the country is designated as a protected conservation site. Today it can add another unique designation, as it put aside gender barriers to elect a female president.

Laura Chinchilla, age 50, married and the mother of a teenage son, became the first woman elected president in the country's history, and the ninth in the history of Latin America. She is now a member of the growing number of female leaders, dating back to President Isabel Perón of Argentina, Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua, Mireya Moscoso of Panama, current President Cristina Fernández of Argentina and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, whose term began in 2006 and ends next month.

The ascension of Chinchilla, of the National Liberation Party, was a well-planned campaign that was years in the making. Her father was the country's comptroller for 15 years and undoubtedly taught her the ins and outs of politics as she studied political science at the University of Costa Rica. Chinchilla then went on to earn a master's degree in public policy at prestigious Georgetown University.

At 35, Chinchilla was appointed vice minister of public security, then two years later became the first female minister of public security, followed by four years as a legislator and then vice president under President Oscar Arias.

Chinchilla, a social conservative who garnered 47 percent of the popular vote, told her followers upon learning of her victory: “The greatest challenge we have is crime, violence and drug trafficking. I have said it in a dramatic way: Central America could be the last battlefield of the war taking place in Colombia and Mexico.” She added, “We must recuperate our tranquility.”

For years Costa Rica had been a haven for tranquility, a haven for expatriates, beach lovers and eco-tourism fans. “Crime,” “violence” and “drug trafficking” hardly would be words used to describe this Central American garden of Eden ... until today, that is. A recent poll by Unimer revealed that 27 percent of Costa Ricans consider crime the most important problem facing the country. Seven months ago, only 16 percent considered crime a major problem. Two years ago, 435 people were murdered, a 25 percent increase from 2007 and the highest murder rate in Costa Rica's history. The U.S. State Department's country guide has seven long paragraphs dedicated to crime and violence warnings for U.S. tourists who visit Costa Rica.

Hopefully Chinchilla's experience in public security will help her battle the growing drug trade that uses her country as a springboard for transporting cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. In a recent television interview, Chinchilla stated that she is very worried about the increase of violence and drugs in her country. She said she will increase funding for law-enforcement agencies, create an anti-drug czar position and request more international cooperation to combat the increase in crime.

During her presidential campaign, she was very open about her pro-life position and was the only presidential candidate to participate in the March for Life and Family parade, organized by a coalition of church leaders who oppose the legalization of abortion and civil recognition for gay couples.

María José Chávez, head of the women's-rights group CEFEMINA, says Chinchilla will not necessarily benefit women's rights. “She has already said that the fact that she is a woman means nothing, because men and women are equal. Statements like this confirmed to us that we should not expect changes and results in terms of our demands.” Chinchilla, who wears a rosary for good luck, was quickly congratulated by the Archdiocese in San Jose, which praised her win. The Archbishop of Costa Rica noted that “the church and the state are independent but not indifferent to each other.” For this reason, he continued, “those programs in which the human being is at the center will always have our support.”

The new president responded with her commitment to “defend the truth and the values the church proclaims. I will strive to keep them at the center of my administration.”

Chinchilla will have her hands full for the next four years as she struggles to bring back the tranquility her country is known for. Even if some of her positions call into question her defense of women's reproductive rights, her perseverance to win the top spot as an educated, intelligent and prepared politician is another good sign for women around the world.

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(Maria Elena Salinas is the author of “I AM MY FATHER'S DAUGHTER: LIVING A LIFE WITHOUT SECRETS.” Reach her at www .mariaesalinas.com)

© 2010 by Maria Elena Salinas

Distributed by King Features Syndicate