costa rica

Government said they will comply with a ruling which said they needed to treat same-sex couples ‘without discrimination’

The Costa Rican government have said yes to marriage equality!

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) said the countries it oversees should treat same-sex couples ‘without discrimination.’

The panel of seven judges issued a statement that said governments ‘must recognize and guarantee all the rights that are derived from a family bond between people of the same sex.’

Judges said it was necessary to ‘guarantee access to all existing forms of domestic legal systems, including the right to marriage.’

They explained this would allow ‘the protection of all the rights of families formed by same-sex couples.’

Costa Rica’s government said it would comply with the statement.

IACHR oversees are Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala.

They also rule over Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname and Uruguay.

Legal director of Presidential House, Marvin Carvajal, said all countries must meet the results of the consultation.

The Costa Rican government asked for an advisory opinion in 2016 on whether it should extend property rights to same-sex couples.

They also asked whether they should allow trans people to change their name and gender marker on identity documents.

IACHR ruled government’s should do so.

Ana Helena Chacón is the Vice President of Costa Rica.

She said the government will look into how to legalize same-sex marriage.

Watch a video of the celebrations:

Twitter reacts to the news:

Readers' Choice