American Expatriate Costa Rica

Progress in project for transexual people to change their names

A bill that will allow transgenders and transsexuals to change their name before the Civil Registry makes progress in the Legislative Assembly.

The initiative, called the Law on Recognition of Rights to Gender Identity and Equality before the Law, was affirmatively ensured this morning by the Commission on Human Rights. The vote was unanimous.

The aim of the project is to eliminate the incongruity between the identity card and the genre of transsexual people.

The project legislates on the recognition and protection of self-perceived gender identity by the applicants, the rectification of gender and the change of name in administrative headquarters, as well as the protection of the person, dignified treatment and confidentiality.

The draft is based on the recommendations of the European Commission on Human Rights and Gender Identity of July 2009. It incorporates the recognition and protection of fundamental rights related to gender and the identity of individuals,”

explained legislator Marcela Guerrero, who represents the Citizen Action Party (PAC) in the commission.

The change of name will not extinguish nor modify the obligations or responsibilities contracted by a person under their previous name.

Within the framework of Articles 11 and 18 of the American Convention on Human Rights, the text prohibits arbitrary or abusive interference with the intimate life of individuals and protects the right to a proper name, legal recognition as a person (registration, existence, name) and the right to live, grow and develop according to their free choice.

The initiative will now go to the legislative plenary for discussion and voting.

crhoy.com