Information on a standard police procedure for investigating alleged sexual assaults against a male minor could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The most detailed account of an investigation of sexual abuse of minors in Costa Rica found for the period 2001-2002 refers to a case that resulted in the imprisonment of five Costa Ricans belonging to the Costa Rica Anonymous Paedophile Association (Asociacion de Pedófilos Anónimos de Costa Rica, APA) (Noticias Aliadas 26 Dec. 2002). The investigation was initiated by a researcher of Casa Alianza, a local branch of the international non-government organization Covenant House, who contacted and involved the Sexual Exploitation Unit of the Ministry of Public Security from the beginning (ibid.). The Costa Rican police also worked with Casa Alianza in the investigation; the police provided an undercover agent to impersonate a visiting foreign paedophile to attend an orgy set up by the accused, and placed hidden cameras at the site of the intended orgy (ibid.). The police then raided the site and arrested those who were later accused (ibid.). During the trial, the Casa Alianza researcher-who reportedly had received hundreds of death threats in the weeks leading up to the trial-provided evidence gathered during the investigation (ibid.). Casa Alianza reportedly expressed concern over the lack of support for the minors rescued during the operation, and for the fact that the judge hearing the case read publicly the names of all minor victims-eight of whom provided testimony during the trial-despite legislation ordering protection of minors' identity (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.

Reference

Noticias Aliadas [Lima]. 26 December 2002. Tim Rogers. "Pedófilos tras las rejas." http://www.latinamericapress.org/Summ.asp?lanCode=2&couCode=35 [Accessed 15 Jan. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 2001-2002

Country Reports 2001. 2002

Human Rights Watch World Report 2002. 2002

Informe de labores de la Defensoría de los Habitantes 2000-2001. 2002

IRB Databases

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 2001-2002

Internet sites and search engines, including:

Casa Alianza

Centro de Investigación y Promoción para América Central de Derechos Humanos (CIPAC/DDHH), San Jose

Defensoría de los Habitantes

La Nación [San Jose]. Searchable archives, 2001-2002

Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI)

Poder Judicial/Oficina de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), San Jose