During a 2 June 2004 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, the president of the Feminist Information and Action Centre (Centro Feminista de Información y Acción, CEFEMINA) in San José provided the following information. No amendments have been made to the 1996 Law on Domestic Violence (Ley contra la violencia doméstica). No other law exists that pertains specifically to violence against women. The Law on Violence Against Women (Ley de penalización de la violencia contra mujeres) is just a bill that has not yet been ratified by the Costa Rican parliament. The Law on Domestic Violence is attached.

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 for refugee protection.

Centro Feminista de Información y Acción (CEFEMINA). 2 June 2004. Telephone interview with the president.

Costa Rica. 4 April 2001. "Loi sur la violence familiale." Translated from Spanish to French by the Multilingual Translation Directorate, Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada.