RIGHTS OF THE CHILD:
TO THE PROTECTION AND CARE NECESSARY FOR HIS WELL-BEING; TO EXPRESS HIS VIEWS FREELY IN MATTERS AFFECTING HIM;
TO PROTECTION FROM ALL FORMS OF PHYSICAL OR MENTAL VIOLENCE, INJURY OR ABUSE;
TO AN EDUCATION DIRECTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESPECT FOR THE CHILD'S PARENTS, THE PREPARATION OF THE CHILD FOR RESPONSIBLE LIFE IN A FREE SOCIETY, IN THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING, PEACE AND TOLERANCE

Mairena, a Costa Rican trans businesswoman, has raised a child for nine years, after the child's biological mother entrusted him to her care as a baby. Now the biological mother is demanding custody of the child. The highest judicial authority in Costa Rica, the Constitutional Court, has decided that the matter must be resolved by the National Infancy Patronage (PANI). The child does not want to return to his biological mother but to remain with Mairena, whom he considers his mother and with whom he has lived his entire life. Mairena believes that she has not been granted custody because of her transsexual condition, as in cases such as hers custody is routinely granted to those who have raised the child. The PANI must decide upon this matter within the next fortnight.

MODEL LETTER

You will find below the model letter written by CIPAC/DDHH followed by an English translation. We suggest that you send the letter in Spanish.

Estimada Licenciada;

Costa Rica es un país reconocido a nivel mundial por su sistema de protección y defensa de los Derechos Humanos, su sistema legal a sido pionero en la defensa y protección de la niñez y la adolescencia, es por ese motivo que le solicitamos apoye positivamente, con base al expediente número 431-1321-89, en el que el señor Luis Mairena solicita que se le conceda el Depósito Administrativo de un niño que tiene a su cargo desde que el menor contaba con cuatro meses de nacido a la fecha. (cuenta con poco más de nueve años), precisamente porque su madre biológica lo abandonó.

Según el artículo 10 del Código de la Niñez y Adolescencia, con respecto a el disfrute de los derechos que; "La persona menor de edad será sujeto de derechos; goza de todos los inherentes a la persona ..." , además, el artículo 24 de éste mismo código nos dice que; "Las personas menores de edad tendrán derecho a que se respete su integridad física, psíquica y moral. Este derecho comprende la protección de su imagen, identidad, autonomía, pensamiento, dignidad y valores." Sabemos que el niño ha manifestado que desea quedarse con su madre-padre Mairena y por tal motivo consideramos importante respetarle ese derecho básico.

Es por este y otros motivos que recurrimos a usted, para que el niño pueda seguir viviendo legalmente en el que ha sido su hogar y su familia, o sea, en manos de su padre-madre, Mairena.

Sin más por el momento, agradeciendo su atención a la presente, se despide,

(Name of the organization/individual and address)

English translation:

Dear Ms.

Costa Rica has been recognized at the international level as a country that protects and defends Human Rights. Its legal system has done groundbreaking work in terms of defending and protecting children and adolescents.

Thus, we request that you give a positive answer to request number 431-1321-89 by which Mr. Luis Mairena asks to be granted legal custody of a child he has been caring for since the age of four months (the child is now 9 years old), precisely because his biological mother has abandoned him.

Article 10 of the (Costa Rican) Children and Adolescents' Code establishes that "the underage person is a subject of rights: he or she enjoys all rights intrinsic to the human person …". Article 24 of the same Code reads, "Underage persons will have the right to see their physical, psychological and moral integrity respected. This right entails protection of their image, identity, autonomy, thought, dignity and values".

We are aware that the child has expressed his desire to remain with his mother-father, Mairena, and thus we consider it is important to respect that fundamental right of his.
We come to you hoping that you can help this child to keep living in what has been his home and with his family, in the hands of his father-mother Mairena.

Sincerely,