Costa Rica: Whether the Patronato Nacional de Infancia (PANI) card would grant authorization for a mother to leave the country with a child without authorization from the father if the mother explained that due to spousal and child abuse, she could not obtain his authorization; whether the PANI card would allow the mother's lawyer to give permission in lieu of the father for the child to leave the country; and whether migration authorities retain the PANI card at the port of exit or return it to the holder
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CRI31705.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Costa Rica: Whether the Patronato Nacional de Infancia (PANI) card would grant authorization for a mother to leave the country with a child without authorization from the father if the mother explained that due to spousal and child abuse, she could not obtain his authorization; whether the PANI card would allow the mother's lawyer to give permission in lieu of the father for the child to leave the country; and whether migration authorities retain the PANI card at the port of exit or return it to the holder, 1 April 1999, CRI31705.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac2b28.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A social worker in the Gender Violence Division at the National Institute for Women (Instituto Nacional de la Mujer), a government agency in San José, provided the following information during a 28 April 1999 telephone interview. The Institute was previously known as the Centro Nacional para el Desarrollo de la Mujer y la Familia.
Generally, when leaving the country with their children, mothers need the authorization of the fathers to do so. In these cases, women need to present the Patronato Nacional de Infancia (PANI) card to immigration officials bearing the signature of the father of her children. They also need to provide a separate piece of identification of their spouses so the authorities may compare signatures. Upon exiting the country, the PANI card is kept by immigration officials and is not returned to the mother (ibid.). The social worker added that a new PANI card is issued each time a parent travels abroad with his/her children.
In cases where women and children are the victims of physical or psychological abuse, a woman may request protection from the state and ask a judge to suspend her spouse's parental authority (patria potesdad). While the courts deliberate over the merits of the case, the judge may issue the father a temporary suspension of rights to his children and grant the mother a written statement that could authorize her to leave the country without the father's consent.
Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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
Instituto Nacional de la Mujer, San José. 28 April 1999. Telephone interview with a social worker.
Additional Sources Consulted
Baker, Christopher. May 1994. Costa Rican Handbook.
Central American NewsPak [Austin]. 1996-1998.
Latinamerican Press [Lima]. 1996-1998.
Two oral sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet and WNC.