Document #1151977
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
In a letter sent by electronic mail to the
DIRB on 21 July 1997, a political studies professor specializing in
Latin American politics at the University of Guelph stated his
belief that "children born out of wedlock are discriminated against
in Chile." He added that "discrimination" against children born out
of wedlock existed in a legal sense and within the Catholic school
system (ibid.). Please consult the attached copy of his letter for
additional information on children born of unwed, separated or
divorced parents.
According to a 23 January 1997 CHIP
News report, some children born of unwed parents cannot
matriculate in school. The same report states that these children
do not have the same legal or social rights as children born to
married parents (ibid.). A 10 January 1995 Inter Press Service
(IPS) report states that laws addressing the inequalities between
legitimate and illegitimate children have been presented to the
Chilean Parliament during the 1990s. However, a 23 January 1997
CHIP News report states that a marriage bill proposing the
same legal rights to children born of couples living together for
at least five years in common-law marriages was rejected by the
Chamber of Deputies. For additional information on illegitimate
children and the divorce debate in Chile, please consult the
above-cited reports.
Two CHIP News articles dated 27
May 1997 and 8 August 1995 have also been attached for general
information on discrimination against illegitimate children in
Chile.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB 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
CHIP News [Santiago]. 27 May
1997. "Intolerance Prevails in Chile." [Internet] [Accessed 22 July
1997]
_____. 23 January 1997. "Parliament Debates Divorce." [Internet]
http://www.chip.cl/> [Accessed 22
July 1997]
_____. 8 August 1995. "Consideration for
Children of Unwed Mothers." [Internet] [Accessed 22 July 1997].
Inter Press Service (IPS). 10 January
1995. "Chile: Multiparty Agreement Opens Divorce Law Debate."
(NEXIS)
Professor specializing in Latin American
politics, Department of Political Studies, University of Guelph. 21
July 1997. Letter sent to the DIRB by electronic mail.
Reuters. 23 January 1997. BC Cycle.
"Chile to Vote on Bill to Legalize Divorce." (NEXIS)
Attachments
CHIP News [Santiago]. 27 May
1997. "Intolerance Prevails in Chile." [Internet] [Accessed 22 July
1997]
_____. 23 January 1997. "Parliament Debates Divorce." [Internet]
http://www.chip.cl/> [Accessed 22
July 1997]
_____. 8 August 1995. "Consideration for
Children of Unwed Mothers." [Internet] [Accessed 22 July 1997].
Inter Press Service (IPS). 10 January
1995. "Chile: Multiparty Agreement Opens Divorce Law Debate."
(NEXIS)
Professor specializing in Latin American
politics, Department of Political Studies, University of Guelph. 21
July 1997. Letter sent to the DIRB by electronic mail.
Reuters. 23 January 1997. BC Cycle.
"Chile to Vote on Bill to Legalize Divorce." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Report.
1992-1997.
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices. 1992-1996.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service
(FBIS) Daily Reports. 1992-1997.
Fundación de Ayuda Social de las
Iglesias Cristianas (FASIC). 1997. Situación de Derechos
Humanos en Chile 1996.
Human Rights Watch World
Report. 1996-1997.
Latinamerica Press [Lima].
1992-1997.
Two sources did not provide information
on the above-mentioned subject.