Costa Rica: baby battle

WHAT the only Latin American country to ban in vitro fertilization, Costa Rica faces a potentially expensive punishment, as several local couples this month presented their arguments before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, claiming that they unfairly lost the opportunity of having children. 

WHY Costa Rica is different in another way - the only country in the hemisphere with an official religion, in this case Catholic, which prohibits artificial insemination. 

WHAT NEXT The court, whose decisions are binding on Costa Rica, and from which there is no appeal, can not only award compensation to the plaintiffs, but could also order the Costa Rican government to change its policy in this area. 

For more information, please contact Esteban Alvarez at [email protected]