On Thursday, more than 20 legislators questioned the pronouncement of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on same-sex marriage. The legislators sent a note to the Court whereby they demand the agency to respect the sovereignty of the peoples to decide their internal affairs.
They indicate that they were prompted to send the note for the responsibility they assumed as legislators, in defense of the sovereignty of the country, respect for the self-determination of the countries, and in defense of the values that have distinguished Costa Rica.
The signatories join the concern of the Hemispheric Congress of Parliamentarians, on ther annulment of the sovereignty of the peoples of all the member countries on issues as sensitive as life, family and marriage, for which we all express that it is not the job of the the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, because it is not established in its fundamental principles and these are internal issues of each country who must legislate on the matter,”
states the document.
In the note, they add:
We, as legislators of the Republic of Costa Rica, strongly express our position contrary to the response of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 24th, 2017, in response to the consultations made by the country, which is intended to be received as of mandatory compliance.”
According to the legislators, the consultation made by the Government of Costa Rica to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights did not mention in any way whether marriage between same-sex couples was to be legalized.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in the advisory opinion issued as a result of the request by Costa Rica, referred to same-sex marriage, guaranteeing its existence and encouraging its acceptance in the Member States, when this criterion does not correspond to the consultation that had been made, and also contradicts the arguments and rationale of the American Convention on Human Rights where there is no article that makes mention or acceptance of marriage between people of the same sex,”
they concluded.
The signers of the document are: Nidia Jiménez, and Marco Vinicio Redondo, from the Citizen Action Party (PAC), José Alberto Alfaro, from the Libertarian Movement, William Alvarado, Rosibel Ramos, Luis Vásuez, Johnny Leiva, Gerardo Vargas Rojas and Rafael Ortiz, from the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC).
Also Aracelly Segura, Julio Rojas, Ronald Calvo, Danny Hayling, Paulina Ramírez, Marta Arauz, Juan Luis Jiménez Succar, Maureen Fallas, Lorelly Trejos and Olivier Jiménez, from the National Liberation Party (PLN), as well as Alexandra Loría, from National Restoration, Gonzalo Ramírez and Abelino Esquivel, from Renovación Costarricense.