Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 00:02:16 -0700 (PDT) Reply-To: Moderator of conference "iglhrc.ern" From: International Gay Lesbian Human Rights Commission Subject: COSTA RICA: Gay group denied regist New Gay Group Denied Legal Registration in Costa Rica A gay group in Costa Rica has been denied its request to register legally because the groups goals offend "good customs and morals". Urgent letters are needed in support of the group's application. The ABRAXAS group was founded on 2 April 1995 and adopted as its central goal the struggle "against the social discrimination leveled against people" with homosexual orientations. The group presented an application for legal registration before the Public Registry, Office of Registration of Organizations, on 5 April 1995 and was assigned case number 878. They were the first gay group in Costa Rica to take such a step. According to reports filed with IGLHRC by the Comision Costarricense de Derechos Humanos (Costa Rican Commission on Human Rights), the Public Registry justified its rejection of the application because of the organization's goals. Specifically, the Public Registry maintains that the goals of the ABRAXAS group violate articles 1, 3, and 23 of the Law of Associations. Article three of the Law of Associations states that no group may legally register that undermines good customs and morality, making further reference to Article 631 of the Penal Code that states no obligation is legally enforceable if it undermine good customs and morality. Article 23 of the Law of Associations states that a public place may be shut by the police if within that establishment there are committed acts against public morality. The ABRAXAS group has appealed the decision. Courteous and respectfully worded letters are needed to buttress their position during the remaining process. A sample letter follows: Dear Sir / Madame: It had come to our / my attention that the legal registration of the "Asociacin ABRAXAS" is being blocked due to the organization's goal of "fighting against social discrimination directed against persons sexually attracted towards members of the same sex". Freedom of association and of speech, and the right to be different and to live free of discrimination, are indispensable to free and complete human development. The very reason rights like these are legally codified is to ensure that they are applied to all people, particularly groups unpopular with those who have greater power, groups like the ABRAXAS group. Given that homosexuality is not against the law in Costa Rica, their is nothing about ABRAXAS goals that places them outside of the law, and so I / we see no reason for them to be denied legal registration. In fact, Article 33 of the Costa Rican Constitution prohibits discrimination aimed at undermining human dignity, precisely the sort of discrimination the ABRAXAS group is currently facing. I / We respectfully ask that all barriers to ABRAXAS' legal registration be removed and that they be allowed the same protections, recognitions, and responsibilities of other non- governmental groups in Costa Rica. Sincerely, Write to: Lic. Rafael Sa'nchez Sa'nchez Director del Registro Pu'blico Apartado Postal 2015 Zapote San Jose' COSTA RICA fax: +506-224-4874 Licda. Diana Espinoza Encargada del Registro de Associaciones Registro Pu'blico Apartado Postal 2015 Zapote San Jose' COSTA RICA fax: +506-224-4874 ..