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Costa Rica: The possibility of a university scholarship being refused to a young woman merely because she is a lesbian; recourses available to this young woman (1998-2003)

In correspondence dated 4 August 2003, the director of the Central American Human Rights Research and Promotion Centre (Centro de Investigación y Promoción para América Central de Derechos Humanos, CIPAC) stated that she was not aware of any case in which a student had been refused a scholarship from a university because of his or her sexual orientation. However, according to the director, although it is unlikely that a public university would refuse a scholarship to someone because of his or her sexual orientation, it is possible that this kind of discrimination exists at private universities (CIPAC 4 Aug. 2003).

A legal representative of the government ombudsman's office (Defensoría de los Habitantes) stated in 4 August 2003 correspondence that the refusal to grant a scholarship to a student because of his or her sexual orientation would be considered discriminatory (Costa Rica 4 Aug. 2003). Furthermore, the representative noted that the ombudsman's office had never received a complaint of this nature (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Centro de Investigación y Promoción para América Central de Derechos Humanos (CIPAC). 4 August 2003. Correspondence from the director.

Costa Rica. 4 August 2003. Defensoría de los Habitantes. Correspondence from a legal representative.

Additional Sources Consulted

Attempts to obtain information from the University of Costa Rica were unsuccessful.

IRB Databases

World News Connection/Dialog

Internet sites, including:

Agua Buena Asociación de Derechos Humanos

AM Costa Rica [San José]

Amnesty International

Arte Sana

Country Reports 2002

Denosotras.org

Defensoría de los Habitantes

Gay & Lesbian Guide to Costa Rica

GayCostaRica

Habitación Propia

Human Rights Watch

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)

La Nación [San José]

Radio Internacional Feminista

Servicio de Noticias de la Mujer (SEM)

Tico Times [San José]

Search engine:

Google

Topics: Women, Lesbians, Homosexuals,