Costa Rica: The "Asociación Obra de la Misericordia," the "Movimiento Juvenil Carismático Internacional" and "Hogares C.R.E.A."; reports of police attacks against these organizations (1998-2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 12 July 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CRI39407.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Costa Rica: The "Asociación Obra de la Misericordia," the "Movimiento Juvenil Carismático Internacional" and "Hogares C.R.E.A."; reports of police attacks against these organizations (1998-2002), 12 July 2002, CRI39407.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be2718.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. |
No references to a Movimiento Juvenil Carismático Internacional (International Charismatic Youth Movement) in Costa Rica could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Only one published reference to an organization with the name Asociación Obras (not Obra) de la Misericordia was found among the sources consulted: the 2000-2001 report of the Office of the Ombudsman (Defensoría de los Habitantes) of Costa Rica names this group as one of several organizations that participated in a small public health education and services fair held in a park on 26-27 April 2001 (La Nación 25 June 2001, Sec. B.5.b).
Hogares CREA is described as an international organization with chapters or affiliated offices in various countries (La Nación 3 Sept. 2000). One report gives the full name of the Costa Rican organization as Fundación Hogares CREA Internacional (NetSalud 11 Oct. 2001), while a news report gives its full name as Asociación Hogar CREA Internacional (La Nación 3 Sept. 2000). However, the latter report refers to the organization repeatedly as simply Hogares CREA (ibid.).
The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, in its Law of Lotteries (Ley de Loterías, which establishes and regulates a variety of lotteries and raffles in the country), refers to the organization as Fundación Hogares Crea Internacional de Costa Rica, and indicates its legal registration (cédula jurídica) as No. 3-006-123688-06 (Junta de Protección Social 29 May 2002). The Law of Lotteries created a regular public raffle named Juego Crea, to be exclusively owned and managed by the Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) of the Fundación Hogares Crea Internacional de Costa Rica (ibid.).
A presidential executive decree on drug control refers to "Hogares Crea" as one of various non-governmental organizations dedicated to "prevention and/or community development" (Asociaciones de Desarrollo Comunal y ONG's en Prevención), to be supported by the National Development Directorate (Dirección Nacional de Desarrollo) (PGR 11 Sept. 2001).
A 2000 La Nación report states that the international organization was founded in 1968 by a former drug addict, and the Costa Rican organization was established in 1984 (3 Sept. 2000). Hogares CREA provides housing to young drug addicts in its various shelters, where they receive guidance and treatment; the organization reportedly offers a rehabilitation treatment based on 14 "forms of therapy" (modalidades de terapia) (ibid.). Since 1996, Hogares CREA has carried out three times a year in San Jose a campaign known as "Crusade of Faith and Hope" (Cruzada de Fe y Esperanza), in which a "rescue team" (equipo de salvamento) walks the streets of the capital to approach troubled street youths and offer them assistance (ibid.). By the year 2000, Hogares CREA was running 21 shelters and its campaign had been expanded to provinces outside San Jose (ibid.).
No reports of police attacks against the Asociación Obras de la Misericordia or against Hogares CREA could 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.
References
Junta de Protección Social de San José, San Jose. 29 May 2002. Ley No. 7395 – La Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica Decreta: Ley de Loterías.
La Nación [San Jose]. 25 June 2001. Informe de labores de la Defensoría de los Habitantes 2000-2001.
_____. 3 September 2000. Eduardo López. "Cosecha de esperanzas."
NetSalud, San Jose. 11 October 2001. Información General.
Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), San Jose. 11 September 2001. Decreto Ejecutivo No. 29819-MP.
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1998-2002.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1998-2001. 1999-2002.
IRB databases.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1998-2002.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 1998-2002.
Internet search engines and sites, including:
Casa Alianza, San Jose. Press and report archives.
La Nación [San Jose]. Searchable archives, 1997-2002.
The Tico Times [San Jose]. Searchable archives, 1997-2002.
Note:
This list is not exhaustive. Country and region-specific publications available in the Resource Centre are not included.