Gender discrimination in child custody and upbringingDiscriminación de género en la guarda y crianza de una menor

"I.-REGARDING THE PROVEN FACTS: The proven fact contained in the appealed judgment is upheld, as it is a faithful reflection of what the case file reports, and the following must also be considered proven: b) That Mr. [Nombre 002], in a confessional statement given at nine o'clock on February sixth, two thousand three, confessed in relevant part: 'It is not true because the girl is well and it is not right for a girl, even as a child, to be with a single mother who lives in the same workplace and could be bothered by others. ... [Nombre 001] suffers because of something else, because I do not allow her to go out with me and because I stopped giving her money.... No, it is not true because my wife took [Nombre 001] to my house because they had negotiated my daughter, also to clarify that the one who negotiated my daughter was [Nombre 001], the delivery of my daughter was made by [Nombre 001] at the hospital.... When the negotiation between [Nombre 001] and my wife took place, [Nombre 001] was three months pregnant....' (see folios 68 to 70). c) That the Forensic Psychosocial Assessment (Peritaje Forense Psicosocial), administered to the parties, noted in its diagnostic impression: '.. Although the girl, due to the events that have arisen, identifies Mrs. [Nombre 009] in the mother role, the possibility is not ruled out that, with proper management of the situation, Mrs. [Nombre 001] may resume her parental right and exercise it appropriately, without thereby violating the infant's stability. For this, the support of Professionals from the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia would be essential, so as to guarantee absolute respect for the fundamental rights of the girl in question, above the particular interests presented by the parties in conflict...' (see folios 74 to 82). d) That during a home visit carried out at the home of the persons involved in this matter, when Mrs. [Nombre 009] was questioned by the members of the Tribunal responsible for the proceeding, she stated: 'that she does not want them to take the girl because [Nombre 001] sold her to them..' (see folio 116). The unproven fact is eliminated as irrelevant. II.-The Judge of first instance rejects this claim, ruling that the plaintiff should have proven the factual assertions that, in her view, supported her claim and that, however, she did not do so, and therefore there is a lack of right (falta de derecho) and a lack of passive standing to sue (falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva) in the defendant, necessary substantive prerequisites in any estimatory judgment, analyzed in this case by the court's own motion (de oficio), as they were not alleged as exceptions by the defendant. III.-The plaintiff bases this proceeding on the fact that she was deceived by the father of her daughter, who asked her to sign a document granting him permission to care for her daughter while she worked, and now she realizes that what was signed was 'supposedly a voluntary and direct delivery of her, to the spouse of her daughter's father, to adopt this creature'; in reality, in this proceeding and due to its summary nature, the validity and effectiveness of said contract cannot be discussed, nor should it be examined; it will be in another venue where this is debated if the parties so wish; what remains in this proceeding is to declare or not the right of the plaintiff to have her daughter with her. IV.- The defendant's arguments to support his opposition have been, among others, that the plaintiff '... could not take care of her daughter...that she asked him for money in exchange for delivering her... that he gave her four hundred thousand colones in exchange for the signature before the notary,.. that this proceeding is solely to harm the adoption initiated by his wife.' Added to the above, we have that in the confessional evidence to which Mr. [Nombre 002] was subjected, he confessed: 'It is not true because the girl is well and it is not right for a girl, even as a child, to be with a single mother who lives in the same workplace and could be bothered by others. ... [Nombre 001] suffers because of something else, because I do not allow her to go out with me and because I stopped giving her money.... No, it is not true because my wife took [Nombre 001] to my house because they had negotiated my daughter, also to clarify that the one who negotiated my daughter was [Nombre 001], the delivery of my daughter was made by [Nombre 001] at the hospital.... When the negotiation between [Nombre 001] and my wife took place, [Nombre 001] was three months pregnant....' V.- During the nineteen-nineties, evident advances were made regarding the effectiveness of the human rights of women and girls in the inter-American system. These advances are explained, in part, by the impact of the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993), whose Declaration text recognizes for the first time that 'the human rights of women and girls are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights...', and that gender-based violence is incompatible with human dignity, and of the World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995, and its preparatory meetings at the American level). These processes contributed to the inter-American system paying greater attention to the rights violations that women suffer mainly because of their condition as women and constituted the framework in which the Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women, known as the Convention of Belém do Pará, was elaborated, which was approved by the General Assembly of the O.A.S. on June ninth, nineteen ninety-four and entered into force on March fifth, nineteen ninety-five, and which currently has the highest level of ratifications among the human rights instruments in force in the region. Article 3 of the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence Against Women, 'Convention of Belém do Pará', states: 'Every woman has the right to a life free from violence, both in the public and private spheres.' Article 4 of the cited law states: 'Every woman has the right to the recognition, enjoyment, exercise and protection of all human rights and freedoms enshrined in regional and international human rights instruments. These rights include, among others: a) the right to have her life respected; b) the right to have her physical, mental and moral integrity respected; c) ... d) ... e) the right to have the inherent dignity of her person respected and her family protected; f) the right to equal protection before the law and of the law; g) the right to a simple and prompt recourse before competent courts, which shall protect her against acts that violate her rights; h) ... i) ... j) ...' For its part, Article 51 of the Political Constitution, when speaking of the family, stipulates: The family, as a natural element and foundation of society, has the right to the special protection of the State. Likewise, the mother, the child, the elderly, and the destitute infirm shall have the right to that protection. Our Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), through Vote No. 3502-94, states the following: '...It suffices to cite Articles 11, 52 and 55 of the Constitution to deduce therefrom the state obligation to protect the family, the mother, the elderly, the destitute infirm and the minor, an obligation that would nullify any act that in any way impairs the rights of these groups.' The principle of the interest of the family and the children is also included in Article 2 of the Family Code (Código de Familia), in accordance with what is stated in Article 52 of the Political Constitution. VI.-The principle 'Iura novit Curiae' (The Court knows the law), allows the Judge to apply the legal regime that fits the legal situation described in the procedural debate, even when the parties have not brought it to account in their claims. Furthermore, depending on each specific case, the Family Judge has been endowed with a power called Moderating and Regulating, which consists of authorizing the Judge to resolve each specific litigation, not with a rule of law, but vested with the power of decision, to assess each case, follow its development, and take the most opportune decision or decisions, according to the circumstances. VII.- The fulfillment of the rights of children and adolescents is of public interest, and consequently, their defense or restitution in case of threat or violation thereof. 'THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT', is a fundamental premise of the doctrine of integral protection, it is the guiding principle of the best interests of the child, the basis for the interpretation and application of the regulations on childhood and adolescence. Articles 1 and 5 of Law 7739, Childhood and Adolescence Code (Código de la Niñez y Adolescencia). Based on this principle, a mandatory line of action is established for public institutions, private social welfare entities, courts of justice, administrative authorities, and administrative bodies. Article 8 of said legal body recites: NORMATIVE HIERARCHY. The norms of this Code shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with the Political Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other normative sources of childhood and adolescence law, according to the following hierarchy: a) The Political Constitution. b) The Convention on the Rights of the Child. c) The other international treaties and conventions on the matter. d) The guiding principles of this Code. e) The Family Code and the laws pertaining to the matter. f) The uses and customs of the socio-cultural environment. g) The general principles of law. Likewise, Articles 13, 29 and 30 of this same law state: RIGHT TO STATE PROTECTION: The minor shall have the right to be protected by the State against any form of intentional or negligent abandonment or abuse, of a cruel, inhuman, degrading or humiliating nature that affects integral development. INTEGRAL RIGHT: The father, mother, or person in charge is obliged to ensure the physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual and social development of their children under eighteen years of age. RIGHT TO FAMILY LIFE: Minors shall have the right to know their father and mother, and also to grow and develop at their side and be cared for by them. They shall have the right to remain in their home from which they cannot be expelled or prevented from returning, except by judicial decision that so establishes. Article 115 of the code in rite formulates: DUTIES OF JUDGES. It shall be the duties of Judges who hear matters in which a minor is involved: a)... b)... c)... d) To conduct the proceeding in search of the real truth., e)....... j).... VIII.-Also Articles 3, 4, 6, 18, 19, 24 and 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved by Law 7184 of July 18, 1990, regulates that 'In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.' and 'States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child...' and it is the regulation that can be taken as pillars of the special protection measures in favor of Children and Adolescents. Likewise, there are also international instruments adopted by Costa Rica, among them the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to Law 4229 of December 11, 1986, and especially the American Convention on Human Rights, signed in San José, Costa Rica, on November 22, 1969, and approved by Law 4534 of February 23, 1970, which in its Article 19 states: 'Every child has the right to the measures of protection that his condition as a minor require from his family, society and the State.' Finally, as of September thirty, nineteen ninety-nine, protection measures are regulated in the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, this instrument known as the Protocol of San Salvador, approved by Law No. 7907, published in Gazette No. 190, in Article 15, which states: ..'The States Parties through this Protocol undertake to provide adequate protection to the family group and especially to:....c) Adopt special protection measures for adolescents in order to guarantee the full maturation of their physical, intellectual and moral capacities...' IX. It is of utmost importance to ensure the physical, moral, social and psychological integrity of minors, as a right that Children have, which can be summarized in four categories: Survival, Growth, Protection and Participation. Within Survival is the right to life, health, and happiness. In Growth, the right to a family, to be educated in a spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality, and solidarity that allows them to grow as a unique, distinct and special person. In Protection, the right to have their identity and integrity respected, to be protected from all physical, sexual or mental abuse, not to be mistreated or punished. In Participation, the right to play, to think, to express themselves. X.-Through the assessment of evidence, one attempts to point out, with the greatest possible accuracy, how the various means of evidence weigh and what influence they exert on the decision that the magistrate must issue. ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos del Derecho Procesal Civil, Ediciones De Palma, Reprint of the third edition of 1958, Buenos Aires, 1978.) 'The appreciation or assessment of evidence represents the culminating moment of procedural activity, determining whether the effort, work, money and time invested in the practice of evidence have been fruitful or not, that is, whether that evidence has fulfilled the purpose for which it was intended: to bring conviction to the judge.' (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. El Proceso Civil, Volume II, Editorial Universidad, Buenos Aires, 1988). 'The assessment of the means of evidence is nothing other than determining their individual and comparative force of conviction with the purpose of establishing the facts of the trial.' ([Nombre5], [Nombre6]. La Valoración de la Prueba en el Proceso, Temis, Bogotá, 1967, page 76). 'The theme of evidence assessment seeks an answer to the question: what efficacy do the means of evidence established in positive law have?' ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]., Op. cit, page 257). XI.-In Costa Rica, according to the theory of the burden of proof and within a more elaborated conception of the notion onus probandi, Article 317 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Código Procesal Civil) contains that: the plaintiff must prove the constitutive facts of their own right, while the defendant must prove the modifying, extinguishing, or impeding facts that paralyze or extinguish the plaintiff's claim, according to the norm that supports their substantive right. Highlighting then that the means of evidence must be understood 'as those procedural elements, which allow the parties, and also the Judge, to provide the necessary evidence that facilitates reaching the verification or not of the veracity of the facts that have served as the basis for the claim and its opposition', while the purpose of the evidence is to allow the Judge to resolve the controversy according to the factual situation that has been deemed certain, hence that purpose is nothing more than the establishment of the truth of the assertions that have been produced in the adversarial proceeding. XII.-Regarding the rules of assessment, they are set forth in Article 330 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which indicates that the 'judges shall assess the means of evidence as a whole, in accordance with the rules of sound criticism (sana crítica), unless legal text provides otherwise'. Despite this, in evidentiary matters, specifically in Family Law, Article 8, second paragraph of the Family Code states: 'However, judges in family matters shall interpret the evidence without subjection to the positive rules of common evidence, taking into account all the circumstances and elements of conviction that the case file provides, but, in all cases, they must state the reasons for the assessment.' With reference to this rule, jurisprudence has stated that it 'contemplates, with the scope of general norms, the two basic parameters that, in family matters, must be observed when assessing evidence, namely: the principle of community or acquisition of evidentiary means and that of their assessment in accordance with the rules of sound criticism. By virtue of the first, jurisdictional bodies are legally prevented from preferring any of those provided and processed during the substantiation of the proceeding, since they have full efficacy in favor of or against the different parties, even against the one who produced them. This does not mean, however, that demonstrative value cannot be detracted from one or several of them, taking into account, for example, their partiality, their lack of reference to the facts of the litis, or their evident complacent nature; all of which must be expressly justified. By the second, it is required, when assessing them, the reasoned and critical application of logic, good understanding, psychology, sociology and even, imagination, in light of the reality of life and human experience...' (Second Chamber of the Court, Resolution No. 39 at 10:20 on February 11, 1998. Family Proceeding. A.M.M.C c/J.J.M.R). XIII.-Community of evidence means that 'the judge exercises the assessment activity of the diverse means of evidence without taking into account their origin, since, by virtue of the principle of community, also called acquisition, it does not matter if they entered the proceeding by virtue of the jurisdictional body's own official activity or at the request of any of the parties, whether plaintiff or defendant or even, an intervening third party'. (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit., page 641). It is then pointed out that the Judge must consider all means of evidence as a whole, regardless of their origin, and furthermore, they must 'be assessed as a whole, as a group, without mattering that the result is adverse to whoever provided it, because there is no right over its conviction value; once they have been legally provided, their result depends only on the force of conviction found within them'. (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit., page 173). XIV.-Sound Criticism (Sana Crítica) is defined as the 'qualification attributed to the rules governing value judgments issued by human understanding in pursuit of its truth, for being supported by correct logical propositions and for being based on observations of experience confirmed by reality'. ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Vocabulario Jurídico, page 532). XV.-Regarding sound criticism, Jurisprudence has indicated that: 'they are the rules of correct human understanding, contingent and variable in relation to the experience of time and place, but stable and permanent regarding the logical principles on which the judgment must be supported and that oblige judges to proceed to the assessment of the pure and simple facts to which witnesses testify in light of the reality of life or in accordance with what human experience advises, without resorting to forced deductions.' (Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice in its judgments numbers 157 at ten o'clock on September twenty-nine, nineteen eighty-nine and 191 at nine hours ten minutes on September sixteenth, nineteen ninety-three), and 'In accordance with this (relatively) new system, the judging officer, in their efforts to unravel the truth, is no longer shackled by a procedural system of regulated or tariffed evidence (whose value is predetermined by law). They can now exercise their assessment work based on principles of experience, reason and logic -accompanied by imagination, psychology and sociology-, as well as scientific and technical knowledge whose use is necessary, for the sake of a successful elucidation'. (Second Chamber of the Court, resolution No. 293 at 15:15 on October 9, 1996, Family Proceeding J.L.V. c/ Sucesión de D.A.A.). In this way, the rules that govern this assessment system '... are the rules of correct human understanding, contingent and variable in relation to the experience of time and place, but stable and permanent regarding the logical principles on which the judgment must be supported, and that oblige judges to proceed to the assessment of the pure and simple facts to which witnesses testify, in light of the reality of life or in accordance with what human experience advises, without resorting to forced deductions'. (Family Tribunal, First Circuit, San José, Resolution No. 870 at 14:15 on October 13, 1998, Family proceeding. M.A.C.L. c/ J.L.S.V.). XVI.- 'Sound criticism, free conviction or sincere conviction, mean, it is true, that the magistrate is not subject to legal shackles or preconceptions that fix a priori the value of the evidence, but the assessment made about this value must be reasoned or externalized. '. (De [Nombre7]. cit, page 605). The judge is free to assess the evidence, but this does not mean they can do so arbitrarily; on the contrary, they are obliged to respect the rules of sound criticism, which are: '...the rules of correct human understanding. In them, the rules of logic interfere with the rules of the judge's experience. Both contribute equally so that the magistrate can analyze the evidence...in accordance with sound reason and an experimental knowledge of things'. ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos de Derecho Procesal Civil. pages 270-271). XVII.- From all the above, we can conclude that in our country, the evidence must be analyzed in a unitary manner and in accordance with sound criticism, for which reason it is not possible to give relevance to any type of evidence over another. XVIII.-From the study of the testimonial evidence, that is, the depositions from folios 58 to 63, of [Nombre 010] and [Nombre 011], the statement in confession made by the defendant [Nombre 002] visible on folios 68 to 70, and the discourse made by the latter when answering the complaint, the Forensic Psychosocial Assessment (Peritaje Forense Psicosocial) from folios 74 to 82, and the Home Visit Report (Acta de Visitas Domiciliarias) from folios 116 and 117, and after analyzing this evidence without subjection to the positive rules of common evidence, taking into account all the circumstances and elements of conviction that the case file provides, as regulated by Article 8 of the Family Code, this full Tribunal considers, having studied the background of the case, that there is not the slightest doubt that we are in the presence of discriminatory acts (sic) for reasons of gender, because it involves a single mother, of another nationality and with few economic resources, from whom her offspring was arbitrarily snatched, and then without any aversion, it is reported that she has no right to claim, because the girl 'was bought, a contrario sensu, because she sold her to them, made a negotiation with the defendant's wife, made a direct delivery to facilitate an adoption', an inelegant affirmation, as if it were an object, a thing, and not a creature, who has life, rights, and who is not a woman of tomorrow but a girl of today, with the right granted by Article 30 of the Childhood and Adolescence Code to live in a family. It is lamentable that atrocities like this, 'buying' a child, profiting from another's pain, be endorsed by a Legal Professional, seen from the private perspective, as well as in the exercise of jurisdiction, given that the Judge of Instance, without analyzing all the details of this matter, limited themself to stating that there was a lack of right (falta de derecho) on the part of the plaintiff and a lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación pasiva) on the part of the defendant. We cannot rend our garments upon news in the written or televised press about child trafficking from a Central American country, which was recently reported, and let pass before our own eyes, and in the very house of Justice, the supposed prosaic negotiation of a girl, for the sole sin of her mother being a single mother, without ethnic roots in this nation.' XIX.- Our country is a nation with advanced legislation in this sense; thus we have the Law for the Promotion of Women's Social Equality, enacted in 1990, the Law Against Sexual Harassment in Employment and Teaching, disseminated in 1995, the Law Against Domestic Violence, promulgated in 1996, the Reform to the Electoral Code (quota) of that same 1996, the Equal Opportunities Law for Persons with Disabilities, of 1996, the HIV-AIDS Law, the General Law for Elderly Persons, The Childhood and Adolescence Code, of (1998), the Law Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, published in 1999, the Responsible Paternity Law, of April 2000. However, paper and the norm are not enough; incorporating a gender perspective will also require the awareness of the legal operator, to apply those rights that women need to be able to live as full human beings, to account for the specificity that the violation of those rights acquires solely due to the condition of being women, and to respond effectively to strengthen the judicial apparatus of this State of Law, so that it does not tolerate unequal relationships between women and men. XX.-Substantive prerequisites are examinable even by the court's own motion (de oficio) as an obligatory analysis in every judgment. In this regard, for a long time, the Court of Cassation has ruled in this sense, among other pronouncements No. 76 of 15:15 on July 22, 1959: No. 34 of 10:20 on March 22, 1959. Such prerequisites are the right, the current interest, and standing (legitimación) -active and passive-. Standing is held by the party who claims to have a specific legal relationship with the procedural claim (Article 104 of the Code of Civil Procedure). The examination of this prerequisite by the First Chamber of the Court is an interesting citation, which in substance analyzed it as follows: 'IX.-(...) The one with standing in the cause (Legitimado en la causa) is the one who can demand that the petitions made in the complaint be resolved, that is, the existence or not of the material right sought, through a favorable or unfavorable judgment ...Legitimatio ad causam constitutes, then, a condition for the issuance of a judgment on the merits, but not for a favorable judgment...it refers to the substantial relationship that must exist between plaintiff and defendant and the substantial interest discussed in the proceeding...'(FIRST CHAMBER OF THE COURT No. 89, 14:50 on June 19, 1991). It is, then, standing (legitimación) a substantive prerequisite that, in case it does not exist in the subjects intervening in the proceeding, hinders resolving the merits of the debated matter, which leads to the issuance of an 'inhibitory judgment' according to the terminology used by the Chamber in the aforementioned resolution. For all that has been said, and the factual basis, the appealed resolution is revoked and instead, the exceptions of Lack of Right (Falta de Derecho) and Lack of Passive Standing to Sue (Falta de Legitimación ad causam pasiva), analyzed by the court's own motion (de oficio) by the lower court judge (ad-quo), are dismissed, given that the plaintiff does have the right to bring this proceeding against the father of her daughter, as a mother exercising parental authority (patria potestad), with all the attributes that this exercise, tautologically, allows her, according to Articles 140 and following of the Family Code, and the Abbreviated Petition for Modification of Custody, Upbringing and Education (Guarda Crianza y Educación) filed by [Nombre 001] against [Nombre 002] is declared granted, with the latter ordered to immediately return the minor K.A.P. to her mother, under the warning that in case of omission, criminal proceedings may be brought against him for the crime of disobedience provided for and penalized by Article 307 of the Penal Code. The claims that follow are denied as they are not procedural aspirations: 1) That this proceeding be processed. (It is not a procedural request that must be resolved in the final judgment; it is the obligatory filing of the complaint, which gives prosecution to it, at the instance of a party)." **I.—ON THE PROVEN FACTS:** The proven fact contained in the appealed judgment is accepted, as it faithfully reflects what the case file reports, and the following must also be taken as proven: b) That Mr. [Nombre 002], in a confession declaration rendered at nine o’clock on February sixth, two thousand three, confessed as relevant: “It is not true because the girl is fine and it is not correct that a girl, even being a girl, be with a single mother who lives in the same place of work and could be disturbed by others. ... [Nombre 001] suffers because of something else, because I do not allow her to go out with me and because I stopped giving her money.... No, it is not true because my wife took [Nombre 001] to my house because they had negotiated my daughter, also to clarify that the one who negotiated my daughter was [Nombre 001], the delivery of my daughter was made by [Nombre 001] at the hospital.... When the negotiation between [Nombre 001] and my wife took place, [Nombre 001] was three months pregnant....” (see folios 68 to 70). c) That the Forensic Psychosocial Expertise, conducted on the parties, in its diagnostic impression noted: “... Although the girl, due to the events that have arisen, identifies Mrs. [Nombre 009] in the role of mother, the possibility is not ruled out that with an adequate handling of the situation, Mrs. [Nombre 001] could retake her parental right and exercise it in a convenient manner, without this violating the stability of the infant. For this, the support of Professionals from the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia would be fundamental, so as to guarantee absolute respect for the fundamental rights of the girl in question, above the particular interests presented by the conflicting parties...” (see folios 74 to 82). d) That upon conducting a home visit to the home of the persons involved in this matter, when Mrs. [Nombre 009] was questioned by the members of the Court in charge of the proceeding, she stated: “that she does not want them to take the girl away because [Nombre 001] sold her to them...” (see folio 116). The fact deemed unproven is eliminated as impertinent.

**II.—** The trial court Judge rejects this claim, ruling that the plaintiff should have proven the assertions of the facts which, in her opinion, gave support to her claim, and that she did not do so; therefore, there is a lack of right and a lack of passive standing (legitimación ad causam pasiva) in the defendant, necessary substantive prerequisites in any estimatory judgment, analyzed in this case ex officio, as they were not alleged as defenses by the respondent.

**III.—** The plaintiff grounds this proceeding on the fact that she was deceived by the father of her daughter, who asked her to sign a document granting him permission to take care of her daughter while she worked, and now she realizes that what she signed was **“supposedly a voluntary and direct delivery by her, to the wife of the progenitor of her daughter, to adopt this creature”**; in reality, in this proceeding and due to its summary nature, the validity and efficacy of said contract cannot be discussed, nor should it be addressed; it will be in another venue where this is debated, if the parties so wish; what remains in this proceeding is to declare or not the right of the plaintiff to have her daughter with her.

**IV.—** The respondent’s arguments to support his opposition have been, among others, that the plaintiff **“... could not take charge of her daughter... that she asked for money in exchange for delivering her... that he gave her four hundred thousand colones in exchange for the signature before the notary,... that this proceeding is solely to harm the adoption initiated by his wife.”** Added to the above, we have that in the confession testimony to which Mr. [Nombre 002] was subjected, he confessed: **“It is not true because the girl is fine and it is not correct that a girl, even being a girl, be with a single mother who lives in the same place of work and could be disturbed by others. ... [Nombre 001] suffers because of something else, because I do not allow her to go out with me and because I stopped giving her money.... No, it is not true because my wife took [Nombre 001] to my house because they had negotiated my daughter, also to clarify that the one who negotiated my daughter was [Nombre 001], the delivery of my daughter was made by [Nombre 001] at the hospital.... When the negotiation between [Nombre 001] and my wife took place, [Nombre 001] was three months pregnant....”** **V.—** During the nineteen-nineties, clear advances were made regarding the validity of the human rights of women and girls in the inter-American system. These advances are explained, in part, by the impact of the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993), which in the text of its Declaration recognizes for the first time that “the human rights of women and girls are an integral and indivisible part of universal human rights...”, and that gender violence is incompatible with human dignity, and of the World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995, and its preparatory meetings at the American level). These processes contributed to the inter-American system paying greater attention to the rights violations that women suffer primarily because of their condition as women and constituted the framework within which the Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women, known as the Convention of Belém do Pará, was elaborated, which was approved by the General Assembly of the O.A.S. on June ninth, nineteen hundred ninety-four and entered into force on March fifth, nineteen hundred ninety-five, and which currently has the highest level of ratifications among the human rights instruments in force in the region. Article 3 of the **Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence Against Women, “Convention of Belém do Pará”**, states: *“Every woman has the right to a life free of violence, both in the public and in the private sphere”*. Article 4 of the cited law states: “*Every woman has the right to the recognition, enjoyment, exercise and protection of all human rights and the freedoms enshrined in regional and international human rights instruments. These rights include, among others:* ***a)*** *the right to have her life respected;* ***b)*** *the right to have her physical, mental and moral integrity respected;* ***c)*** *...* ***d)*** *...* ***e)*** *the right to have the inherent dignity of her person respected and her family protected;* ***f)*** *the right to equal protection before the law and of the law;* ***g)*** *the right to a simple and rapid recourse before the competent courts, which shall protect her against acts that violate her rights;* ***h)*** *...* ***i)*** *...* ***j)*** *...*” **Article 51 of the Political Constitution, when speaking of the family, establishes:** **The family, as a natural element and foundation of society, has the right to the special protection of the State. Likewise, the mother, the child, the elderly, and the helpless sick shall have the right to that protection.** Our Constitutional Chamber, by means of Vote **No. 3502-94**, formulates the following: ***“...** It is enough to cite articles 11, 52 and 55 of the Constitution to deduce from them the state obligation to protect the family, the mother, the elderly, the helpless sick, and the minor, an obligation that would annul any act that in any way undermines the rights of these groups*.” The principle of the interest of the family and of the children is also contained in Article 2 of the Family Code (Código de Familia), in concordance with what is stated in Article 52 of the Political Constitution.

**VI.—** The principle “Iura novit Curiae” (The Court knows the Law), allows the Judge to apply the legal regime that fits the legal situation described in the procedural debate, even when the parties have not brought it to account in their claims. Furthermore, depending on each specific case, the Family Judge has been endowed with a power called **Moderating** and **Regulatory**, which consist of **authorizing the Judge to resolve each specific litigation, not with a rule of law, but invested with decision-making power, to assess each case, follow its development and take the most opportune decision or decisions, according to the circumstances.** **VII.—** The fulfillment of the rights of children and adolescents is of public interest, and consequently, their defense or restitution in case of threat or violation thereof. **“THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT”**, is a fundamental premise of the doctrine of integral protection, it is the guiding principle of the best interest of the child, the basis for the interpretation and application of the regulations on children and adolescents. Articles 1 and 5 of Law 7739, Code of Childhood and Adolescence (Código de la Niñez y Adolescencia). Based on this principle, a line of action of mandatory character is established for **public institutions**, private social welfare entities, **courts of justice**, **administrative authorities** and **administrative bodies**. Article 8 of said legal body recites: **NORMATIVE HIERARCHY.** The norms of this Code shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with the Political Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other normative sources of the law of childhood and adolescence, according to the following hierarchy: a) The Political Constitution. b) The Convention on the Rights of the Child. c) The other international treaties and conventions on the matter. d) The guiding principles of this Code. e) The Family Code and the laws pertaining to the matter. f) The uses and customs proper to the sociocultural environment. g) The general principles of Law. Likewise, articles 13, 29 and 30 of this same law state: **RIGHT TO STATE PROTECTION:** The minor person shall have the right to be protected by the State against any form of intentional or negligent abandonment or abuse, of a cruel, inhuman, degrading or humiliating nature that affects integral development. **INTEGRAL RIGHT:** The father, mother or person in charge is obligated to ensure the physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual and social development of their children under eighteen years of age. **RIGHT TO FAMILY LIFE:** Minor persons shall have the right to know their father and mother, also, to grow and develop at their side and be cared for by them. They shall have the right to remain in their home from which they may not be expelled or prevented from returning, except by judicial decision that so establishes. Article 115 of the code under this rite formulates: **DUTIES OF THE JUDGES.** It shall be the duties of the Judges who hear matters in which a minor person is involved: a)... b)... c)... **d) To conduct the process in search of the real truth.** e).......j)....

**VIII.—** Also, Articles 3, 4, 6, 18, 19, 24 and 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved by Law 7184 of July 18, 1990, regulate that **“In all measures concerning children, whether taken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, a primary consideration to which attention shall be paid is the best interest of the child.”** and **“States Parties shall ensure that the child is not separated from his or her parents against their will, except when, subject to judicial review, the competent authorities determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary in the best interest of the child...”** and it is this normative framework that can be taken as pillars of the special protection measures in favor of Children and Adolescents. Likewise, there are also international instruments adopted by Costa Rica, among them the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to Law 4229 of December 11, 1986, and especially the American Convention on Human Rights, subscribed in San José, Costa Rica, on November 22, 1969, and approved by Law 4534 of February 23, 1970, which in its Article 19 states: “Every child has the right to the measures of protection that his condition as a minor requires from his family, society and the State.” Finally, as of September 30, nineteen hundred ninety-nine, the protection measures are regulated in the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, known as the Protocol of San Salvador, approved by Law No. 7907, published in Gazette No. 190, in Article 15, which says: ..”The States Parties through this Protocol commit to providing adequate protection to the family group and especially to:....c) Adopting special measures for the protection of adolescents in order to guarantee the full maturation of their physical, intellectual and moral capacities...”.

**IX.** It is of utmost importance to safeguard the physical, moral, social and psychological integrity of minors, as a right that Boys and Girls have, which can be summarized in four categories: **Survival, Growth, Protection and Participation.** Within Survival, there is the right **to life, to health, and to happiness.** In Growth, the right **to a family, to be educated in a spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality, and solidarity that allows them to grow as a unique, distinct and special person.** In Protection, they hold the right **to have their identity and integrity respected, to be protected from all physical, sexual or mental abuse, not to be mistreated or punished.** In Participation, **the right to play, to think, to express themselves.** **X.—** Through the assessment of evidence, one **“seeks to indicate, with the greatest possible accuracy, how the various means of evidence weigh on and what influence they exert on the decision that the magistrate must issue”**. ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos del Derecho Procesal Civil, Ediciones De Palma, Reprint of the third edition of 1958, Buenos Aires, 1978.) **“The appreciation or assessment of evidence represents the culminating moment of procedural activity; it determines whether the effort, work, money and time invested in the practice of the evidence have been or not fruitful, that is, whether that evidence has fulfilled or not the purpose for which it was intended: to bring conviction to the judge.”** (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. El Proceso Civil, Volume II, Editorial Universidad, Buenos Aires, 1988). **“The assessment of the means of evidence is nothing other than determining their individual and comparative convincing power with the purpose of establishing the facts of the trial”**. ([Nombre5], [Nombre6]. La Valoración de la Prueba en el Proceso, Temis, Bogotá, 1967, page 76). **“The theme of the assessment of evidence seeks an answer to the question: what efficacy do the means of evidence established in positive law have?”** ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]., Op. cit, page 257).

**XI.—** In Costa Rica, according to the theory of the burden of proof and within a more elaborated conception of the notion **onus probandi**, Article 317 of the Civil Procedure Code (Código Procesal Civil) contains: **that the plaintiff must prove the constitutive facts of his own right, while the defendant must prove the modifying, extinguishing or impeding facts that paralyze or extinguish the plaintiff’s claim, according to the norm that supports his substantive right**. Thus, it is highlighted that **the means of evidence** must be understood **“as those procedural elements that allow the parties, and also the Judge, to contribute the necessary evidence that facilitates arriving at the verification or not of the veracity of the facts that have served as the basis for the claim and its opposition”**, while **the purpose of the evidence is to allow the Judge to resolve the dispute according to the factual situation that has been held as true, hence that purpose is nothing more than establishing the truth of the assertions that have been produced in the contradictory process.** **XII.—** Regarding the rules of assessment, they are set forth in Article 330 of the Civil Procedure Code, which indicates that **“judges shall assess the means of evidence as a whole, in accordance with the rules of sound criticism (sana crítica), unless a legal text states otherwise.”** Despite this, in evidentiary matters, specifically in Family Law, Article 8, second paragraph of the Family Code states: **“However, judges in family matters shall interpret the evidence without subjection to the positive rules of common evidence, taking into account all the circumstances and the elements of conviction that the case file provides, but, in any case, they must state the reasons for their assessment.”** With reference to this provision, case law has said that it **“contemplates, with the scope of general norms, the two basic parameters that, in family matters, must be observed when assessing evidence, namely: the principle of community or acquisition of evidentiary means and that of their assessment in accordance with the rules of sound criticism. By virtue of the first, the jurisdictional organs are legally unable to prefer any of those contributed and produced during the substantiation of the process, since they have full efficacy for or against the different parties, even against the one that produced them. This does not mean, however, that demonstrative value cannot be subtracted from one or several of them, taking into account, for example, its partiality, its lack of reference to the facts of the litis or its evident complacent nature; all of which must be expressly justified. By the second, when assessing them, it is required to apply a reasoned and critical analysis of logic, good understanding, psychology, sociology and even imagination, in light of the reality of life and human experience...”** (Second Chamber of the Court, Resolution No. 39 at 10:20 a.m. on February 11, 1998. Family Proceeding. A.M.M.C vs. J.J.M.R).

**XIII.—Community of evidence**, means that **“the judge exercises the valuation activity of the various means of evidence without taking into account their origin, since, by virtue of the principle of community, also called acquisition, it does not matter if they entered the process through the ex officio activity of the jurisdictional organ or at the instance of any of the parties, be it plaintiff or defendant, or even, an intervening third party.”** (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit., page 641). It is then indicated that the Judge must consider all the means of evidence together, regardless of their origin, and in addition they must be **“appreciated as a whole, together, without mattering that their result is adverse to the one who contributed them, because there is no right over their value of conviction, once they have been legally contributed, their result depends only on the force of conviction found within them.”** (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit., page 173).

**XIV.—** **Sound Criticism (Sana Crítica)** is defined as the **“qualification attributed to the rules that govern the judgments of value issued by human understanding in pursuit of its truth, for being supported by correct logical propositions and for being founded on observations of experience confirmed by reality.”** ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Vocabulario Jurídico, page 532).

**XV.—** Regarding sound criticism, Jurisprudence has indicated that: **“they are the rules of correct human understanding, contingent and variable in relation to the experience of time and place, but stable and permanent concerning the logical principles on which the judgment must be supported and which oblige judges to proceed to the assessment of the pure and simple facts testified to by witnesses in light of the reality of life or in accordance with what human experience advises, without resorting to forced deductions.”** (Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice in its judgments number 157 at ten o’clock on September twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred eighty-nine, and 191 at nine hours and ten minutes on September sixteenth, nineteen hundred ninety-three), and **“In accordance with this (relatively) new system, the judge, in his efforts to uncover the truth, is no longer shackled by a regulated procedure or one of fixed-value evidence (where its value is predetermined by law). He can now carry out his appraisal work based on principles of experience, reason and logic—accompanied by imagination, psychology and sociology—as well as the scientific and technical knowledge whose use may be necessary, in pursuit of a successful elucidation.”** (Second Chamber of the Court, resolution No. 293 at 3:15 p.m. on October 9, 1996, Family Proceeding J.L.V. c/ Succession of D.A.A.). In this way, the rules governing this system of assessment **“... are the rules of correct human understanding, contingent and variable in relation to the experience of time and place, but stable and permanent concerning the logical principles on which the judgment must be supported, and which oblige judges to proceed to the assessment of the pure and simple facts testified to by witnesses, in light of the reality of life or in accordance with what human experience advises, without resorting to forced deductions.”** (Family Court, First Circuit, San José, Resolution No. 870 at 2:15 p.m. on October 13, 1998, Family proceeding. M.A.C.L. c/ J.L.S.V.).

**XVI.—** **“Sound criticism, free conviction or sincere conviction, mean, it is true, that the magistrate is not subject to legal ties or preconceptions that fix the value of the evidence a priori, but the appraisal he makes of this value must be reasoned or expressed.”** (De [Nombre7]. cit, page 605). The judge has the freedom to assess the evidence, but that does not mean he can do so arbitrarily; on the contrary, he is obligated to respect the rules of sound criticism, which are: **“... the rules of correct human understanding. In them, the rules of logic interfere with the rules of the judge’s experience. Both contribute equally so that the magistrate can analyze the evidence... according to sound reason and an experimental knowledge of things.”** ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos de Derecho Procesal Civil. pages 270-271).

**XVII.—** From all the above, we can conclude that in our country the evidence must be analyzed in a unitary form and in accordance with sound criticism, for which reason it is not possible to give relevance to any type of evidence above another.

**XVIII.-** From the study of the testimonial evidence, namely the depositions on folios 58 to 63, of [Nombre 010] and [Nombre 011], the confession made by the defendant [Nombre 002] visible on folios 68 to 70, and the discourse made by the latter when answering the complaint, the Forensic Psychosocial Expertise on folios 74 to 82, and the Record of Home Visits on folios 116 and 117, and having analyzed this evidence without subjection to the positive rules of common evidence, taking into account all the circumstances and the elements of conviction that the case file provides, as regulated by Article 8 of the Family Code (Código de Familia), this Court in plenary considers, having studied the background of the case, that there is not the slightest doubt that we are in the presence of discriminatory acts on grounds of gender (razones de género), due to her being a single mother, of another nationality, and with few economic resources, from whom her infant child was arbitrarily snatched, and then without any aversion, it is informed that she has no right to claim, because the girl **" was bought, a contrario sensu, because she sold her to them, she made a negotiation with the defendant's wife, she made a direct delivery to access an adoption "**, an inelegant statement, as if it were about an object, a thing, and not a creature, who has life, rights, and who is not a woman of tomorrow but a girl of today, with the right granted by Article 30 of the Childhood and Adolescence Code (Código de la Niñez y Adolescencia) to live in a family. It is lamentable that atrocities like this, **" buying "** a child, profiting from another's pain, be endorsed by a Legal Professional, viewed from the private perspective, as well as in the exercise of jurisdiction, given that the Trial Judge, without analyzing all the details of this matter, limited himself to stating that there was a lack of right (falta de derecho) on the part of the plaintiff and a lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación pasiva) on the part of the defendant. We cannot rend our garments before news in the written or televised press about child trafficking from a Central American country, which was recently reported, and let pass before our own eyes, and in the very house of Justice, the supposed prosaic negotiation of a girl, for her mother's sole sin of being a single mother, without ethnic roots in this nation." **XIX.-** Our country is a nation with advanced legislation in this sense; thus we have the Law for the Promotion of Women's Social Equality (Ley de Promoción de la Igualdad Social de la Mujer), enacted in 1990, the Law Against Sexual Harassment in Employment and Teaching (Ley Contra el Hostigamiento Sexual en el Empleo y la Docencia), promulgated in 1995, the Law Against Domestic Violence (Ley Contra la Violencia Doméstica), disseminated in 1996, the Reform to the Electoral Code (quota) of that same year 1996, the Equal Opportunities Law for Persons with Disabilities (Ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades para las personas con discapacidad), of 1996, the HIV-AIDS Law (Ley de VIH-SIDA), the General Law for Older Adults (Ley General de Personas Adultas Mayores), the Childhood and Adolescence Code (Código de la Niñez y la Adolescencia), of (1998), the Law Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors (Ley Contra la Explotación Sexual de las Personas Menores de Edad), published in 1999, the Responsible Paternity Law (Ley de Paternidad Responsable), of April 2000. However, paper and the norm are not enough; incorporating the gender perspective will also require the awareness-raising of the legal operator, to apply those rights that women need to be able to live as full human beings, to account for the specificity that the violation of those rights acquires by the sole condition of being women, and to respond effectively to strengthen the judicial apparatus of this Rule of Law State, which does not tolerate unequal relations between women and men. **XX.-** The substantive requirements (presupuestos de fondo) are examinable even ex officio as a mandatory analysis in every judgment. In this regard, for a long time, the Court of Cassation (Sala de Casación) has ruled in this sense, among other rulings No. 76 of 15 hours 15 minutes of July 22, 1959: No. 34 of 10 hours 20 minutes of March 22, 1959. Such requirements are **the right, the current interest, and standing -active and passive- (legitimación -activa y pasiva-)**. Standing (legitimación) is held by the party that claims to have a certain legal relationship with the procedural claim (**Article 104 of the Civil Procedure Code, Código Procesal Civil**). The examination of this requirement by the First Chamber of the Court (Sala Primera de la Corte) makes for an interesting citation, which in substance analyzed it as follows: **"IX.-(...) Legitimized in the cause is he who can demand that the petitions made in the complaint be resolved, that is, the existence or not of the material right that is claimed, by means of a favorable or unfavorable judgment ... Legitimatio ad causam constitutes, then, a condition for the issuance of a judgment on the merits or of substance, but not of the favorable judgment... it refers to the substantial relationship that must exist between plaintiff and defendant and to the substantial interest that is discussed in the process..."** (FIRST CHAMBER OF THE COURT No.89, 14 hours 50 minutes of June 19, 1991). Standing (legitimación) is, therefore, a substantive requirement which, if not existing in the subjects intervening in the process, hinders the resolution of the merits of the debated matter, which leads to the issuance of an "inhibitory judgment" ("sentencia inhibitoria") according to the terminology used by the Chamber in the aforementioned resolution. For all that has been said, and the factual basis, the appealed resolution is revoked and in its place the defenses of Lack of Right (Falta de Derecho) and Lack of Passive Standing (Falta de Legitimación ad causam pasiva), analyzed ex officio by the ad-quo, are declared without merit, since the plaintiff does have the right to bring this process against the father of her daughter, as a mother exercising parental authority (patria potestad), with all the attributes that this exercise, for want of a better term, allows her, according to Articles 140 and following of the Family Code (Código de Familia), and the Summary Proceeding for Modification of Custody, Upbringing and Education (Guarda Crianza y Educación) filed by [Nombre 001] against [Nombre 002] is declared with merit, with the latter being ordered to immediately return the minor **K.A.P.** to her mother, under warning that in case of omission, he may be prosecuted for the crime of disobedience foreseen and sanctioned by Article 307 of the Penal Code (Código Penal). The following claims are denied as they are not procedural aspirations: 1) That this process be given course. (It is not a procedural request that must be resolved in a final ruling; it is the obligatory filing of the complaint, which gives prosecution to the same, at the instance of a party). 3) That the intervention of PANI and judicial authorities be ordered, so that by force, if possible, her daughter is brought to the Court (It is not a procedural petition). 4) That she be granted the deposit of her daughter while this matter is elucidated (It is not a procedural demand; it is a precautionary measure, medida cautelar). 5) That the National Child Welfare Agency (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia) be considered a party (It is not a procedural contention; it is a formality of the process, in accordance with numeral 5 of the Family Code, Código de Familia)." These rights include, among others: a) the right to have one's life respected; b) the right to have one's physical, mental, and moral integrity respected; c) ... d) ... e) the right to have the dignity inherent to one's person respected and to have one's family protected; f) the right to equal protection before the law and of the law; g) the right to a simple and rapid remedy before competent courts, which protects one against acts that violate one's rights; h) ... i) ... j) ... " **. **For its part, Article 51 of the Political Constitution, when speaking of the family, establishes: **The family, as the natural element and foundation of society, has the right to the special protection of the State. Likewise, the mother, the child, the elderly, and the helpless sick shall have the right to that protection. **Our Constitutional Chamber, through Voto **No. 3502-94, **formulates the following: **"**...It is enough to cite articles 11, 52, and 55 of the Constitution to deduce from there the state obligation to protect the family, the mother, the elderly, the helpless sick, and the minor, an obligation that would nullify any act that in any way impairs the rights of these groups **". The principle of the best interests of the family and the children is also enshrined in Article 2 of the Family Code, in accordance with what is stated in Article 52 of the Political Constitution.

**VI.-** The principle "Iura novit Curiae" (The Court knows the Law), allows the Judge to apply the legal regime that fits the legal situation described in the procedural debate, even when the parties have not brought it into account in their claims. Furthermore, depending on each specific case, the Family Judge has been endowed with a power called **Moderator** and **Regulator**, which consist of **authorizing the Judge to resolve each specific litigation, not with a rule of law, but invested with decision-making power, to assess each case, follow its development, and gradually take or make the most appropriate decision or decisions, according to the circumstances.

VII.-** It is of public interest to fulfill the rights of children and adolescents and, consequently, their defense or restoration in the event of threat or violation thereof. **" THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT "**, is a fundamental premise of the comprehensive protection doctrine, it is the guiding principle of the best interests of the child, the basis for the interpretation and application of the regulations on childhood and adolescence. Articles 1 and 5 of Law 7739, the Childhood and Adolescence Code. Based on this principle, a line of action of mandatory character is established for **public institutions**, private social welfare entities, **courts of justice**, **administrative authorities**, and **administrative bodies**. Article 8 of said legal body recites: **NORMATIVE HIERARCHY.** The norms of this Code shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with the Political Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other normative sources of the law of childhood and adolescence, according to the following hierarchy: a) The Political Constitution. b) The Convention on the Rights of the Child. c) Other international treaties and conventions on the matter. d) The guiding principles of this Code. e) The Family Code and the laws pertaining to the matter. f) The uses and customs typical of the socio-cultural environment. g) The general principles of Law. Likewise, articles 13, 29, and 30 of this same law state: **RIGHT TO STATE PROTECTION:** The minor shall have the right to be protected by the State against any form of abandonment or intentional or negligent abuse, of a cruel, inhuman, degrading, or humiliating nature that affects comprehensive development. **COMPREHENSIVE RIGHT:** The father, mother, or person in charge is obliged to ensure the physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual, and social development of their children under eighteen years of age. **RIGHT TO FAMILY LIFE:** Minors shall have the right to know their father and mother, and also to grow and develop alongside them and be cared for by them. They shall have the right to remain in their home from which they may not be expelled nor prevented from returning to it, except by judicial decision establishing so. Article 115 of the code in question formulates: **DUTIES OF JUDGES.** It shall be the duties of Judges hearing matters in which a minor is involved: a)... b)... c)... **d) To conduct the process in search of the real truth., **e).......j)....

**VIII.-** Also Articles 3, 4, 6, 18, 19, 24, and 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved by Law 7184 of July 18, 1990, regulate that **"In all actions concerning children, undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities, or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration."** and **"States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child..."** and this is the regulation that can be taken as pillars of the special protection measures in favor of Children and Adolescents. Also, there exist international instruments adopted by Costa Rica, among them the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to Law 4229 of December 11, 1986, and especially the American Convention on Human Rights, signed in San José, Costa Rica, on November 22, 1969, and approved by Law 4534 of February 23, 1970, which in its Article 19 reads: "Every child has the right to the measures of protection that his condition as a minor requires from his family, from society, and from the State." Finally, as of September 30, nineteen ninety-nine, protection measures are regulated in the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, this instrument known as the Protocol of San Salvador, approved by Law No. 7907, published in La Gaceta No. 190, in Article 15, which says: .."The States Parties through this Protocol undertake to provide adequate protection to the family group and especially to:....c) Adopt special measures for the protection of adolescents in order to guarantee the full maturation of their physical, intellectual, and moral capacities...".

**IX.** It is of the utmost importance to safeguard the physical, moral, social, and psychological integrity of minors, as a right that Boys and Girls have, which can be summarized in four categories: **Survival, Growth, Protection, and Participation. **Within Survival, there is the right **to life, to health, and to happiness. **In Growth, the right **to a family, to be educated in a spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality, and solidarity that allows one to grow as a unique, distinct, and special person,. **In protection, one holds the right to **have one's identity and integrity respected, to be protected from all physical, sexual, or mental abuse, to not be mistreated or punished. **In participation, **the right to play, to think, to express oneself.** **X.-** Through the assessment of evidence, one **" tries to indicate, with the greatest possible accuracy, how the various means of proof gravitate and what influence they exert on the decision that the magistrate must issue"**. ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos del Derecho Procesal Civil, Ediciones De Palma, Reprint of the third edition of 1958, Buenos Aires, 1978.) **" The appraisal or assessment of evidence represents the culminating moment of procedural activity, it determines whether the effort, work, money, and time invested in the practice of evidence have been profitable or not, that is, whether that evidence has fulfilled or not the purpose for which it was intended: to bring conviction to the judge."** (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. El Proceso Civil, Volume II, Editorial Universidad, Buenos Aires, 1988). **" The assessment of the means of proof is nothing other than determining their individual and comparative force of conviction for the purpose of establishing the facts of the trial"**. ([Nombre5], [Nombre6]. La Valoración de la Prueba en el Proceso, Temis, Bogotá, 1967, page 76). **" The topic of evidence assessment seeks an answer to the question: what efficacy do the means of proof established in positive law have? "** ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]., Op. cit, page 257).

**XI.-** In Costa Rica, according to the theory of the burden of proof and within a more elaborate conception of the notion **onus probandi**, Article 317 of the Civil Procedure Code contains **: that the plaintiff must prove the constitutive facts of their own right, while the defendant must prove the modifying, extinguishing, or impeding facts that paralyze or extinguish the plaintiff's claim, according to the norm that supports their substantive right**. Highlighting then that the **means of proof** should be understood **" as those procedural elements that allow the parties, and also the Judge, to provide the necessary evidence that facilitates arriving at the verification or not of the truthfulness of the facts that have served as the basis for the claim and its resistance "**, while **the purpose of the evidence is to allow the Judge to resolve the controversy in accordance with the factual situation that has been taken as true, hence that purpose is nothing more than establishing the truth of the affirmations that have been produced in the adversarial process.

XII.-** In relation to the rules of assessment, they are set forth in Article 330 of the Civil Procedure Code, which indicates that **" the judges shall assess the means of proof as a whole, in accordance with the rules of sound judgment (sana crítica), unless a legal text provides otherwise "**. Despite this, in evidentiary matters, specifically in Family Law, Article 8, second paragraph of the Family Code reads: **" However, judges in family matters shall interpret the proofs without subjection to the positive rules of common evidence, attending to all the circumstances and elements of conviction that the case file provides, but, in any case, they must state the reasons for the assessment "**. With reference to this provision, jurisprudence has said that it **" contemplates, with the scope of general norms, the two basic parameters that, in family matters, must be observed when assessing evidence, namely: the principle of community or acquisition of evidentiary means and that of their assessment in accordance with the rules of sound judgment (sana crítica). By virtue of the first, jurisdictional bodies are legally prevented from preferring any of those provided and produced during the substantiation of the process, since they have full efficacy in favor of or against the different parties, even the one that may have produced them. This does not mean, however, that demonstrative value cannot be detracted from one or several of them, taking into account, for example, their partiality, their lack of reference to the facts of the litigation, or their evidently complacent nature; all of which must be justified expressly. By the second, it is required, when assessing them, the reasoned and critical application of logic, good understanding, psychology, sociology, and even imagination, in light of the reality of life and human experience..."** ( Second Chamber of the Court, Resolution No. 39 of 10:20 a.m. on February 11, 1998. Family Proceeding. A.M.M.C v. J.J.M.R).

**XIII.- Community of Proof (Comunidad de la prueba)**, means that **" the judge exercises the assessment activity of the various means of proof without taking into account their origin, since, by virtue of the community principle, also called acquisition, it does not matter if they entered the process through the jurisdictional body's official activity or at the instance of any of the parties, be it plaintiff or defendant or even an intervening third party "**. (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit., page 641). It is then pointed out that the Judge must consider all the means of proof as a whole, regardless of their origin, and furthermore, they must **" be assessed as a whole, together, without it mattering that their result is adverse to the one who provided them, because there is no right over their conviction value, once they have been legally provided, their result depends only on the force of conviction found within them "**. ( De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit., page 173).

**XIV.-** The **Sound Judgment (Sana Crítica)** is defined as the **" qualification attributed to the rules governing the value judgments issued by human understanding in pursuit of its truth, for being supported by correct logical propositions and for being founded on observations of experience confirmed by reality "**. ( [Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Vocabulario Jurídico, page 532).

**XV.-** Regarding sound judgment (sana crítica), the Jurisprudence has indicated that: **" they are the rules of correct human understanding, contingent and variable in relation to the experience of time and place, but stable and permanent regarding the logical principles on which the judgment must be based and which oblige judges to proceed with the assessment of the pure and simple facts that the witnesses testify to in light of the reality of life or in accordance with what human experience advises, without resorting to forced deductions."** (Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice in its judgments numbers 157 of ten o'clock on September twenty-nine, nineteen eighty-nine and 191 of nine hours ten minutes on September sixteen, nineteen ninety-three), and **" In accordance with this (relatively) new system, the judge, in their efforts to unravel the truth, is no longer shackled by a regulated or tariffed evidence procedure (whose value is predetermined by law). They may now exercise their assessment work based on principles of experience, reason, and logic -accompanied by imagination, psychology, and sociology-, as well as the scientific and technical knowledge whose use proves necessary, for the sake of a successful elucidation."** ( Second Chamber of the Court, resolution No. 293 of 3:15 p.m. on October 9, 1996, Family Proceeding J.L.V. v/ Estate of D.A.A.),. In this way, the rules governing this assessment system **"... are the rules of correct human understanding, contingent and variable in relation to the experience of time and place, but stable and permanent regarding the logical principles on which the judgment must be based, and which oblige judges to proceed with the assessment of the pure and simple facts that the witnesses testify to, in light of the reality of life or in accordance with what human experience advises, without resorting to forced deductions."** ( Family Court, First Circuit, San José, Resolution No. 870 of 2:15 p.m. on October 13, 1998, Family proceeding. M.A.C.L. v/ J.L.S.V.).

**XVI.-** The **" sound judgment (sana crítica), free conviction (libre convicción), or sincere conviction (convicción sincera), mean, it is true, that the magistrate is not subject to ties or legal preconceptions that fix a priori the value of the evidence, but the assessment made regarding this value must be reasoned or externalized. "** (De [Nombre7]. cit, page 605). The judge has freedom to assess the evidence, but that does not mean they can do so arbitrarily; on the contrary, they are obliged to respect the rules of sound judgment (sana crítica), which are: **" ...the rules of correct human understanding. In them, the rules of logic interfere with the rules of the judge's experience. Both contribute equally so that the magistrate can analyze the evidence... in accordance with sound reason and an experimental knowledge of things."** ( [Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos de Derecho Procesal Civil. pages 270-271).

**XVII.-** From all of the foregoing, we can conclude that in our country, the evidence must be analyzed in a unitary manner and in accordance with sound judgment (sana crítica), for which reason it is not possible to give relevance to any type of evidence over another.

**XVIII.-** From the study of the testimonial evidence, namely the depositions on folios 58 to 63, of [Nombre 010] **and [Nombre 011], **the declaration made in confession by the defendant [Nombre 002] **visible on folios 68 to 70, and from the discourse made by the latter when answering the complaint, the Psychosocial Forensic Report on folios 74 to 82, and the Record of Home Visits on folios 116 and 117, and analyzing this evidence without subjection to the positive rules of common evidence, attending to all the circumstances and the elements of conviction that the case file provides, as regulated by Article 8 of the Family Code, this Court in plenary considers, having studied the background of the case, that there is not the slightest doubt that we are in the presence of discriminatory acts (sic) on grounds of gender, for being a single mother, of another nationality, and with few economic resources, from whom her offspring was arbitrarily snatched, and then without any aversion, it is informed that she has no right to claim, because the girl **" was bought, a contrario sensu, because she sold her, made a negotiation with the defendant's wife, made a direct delivery to access an adoption "**, inelegant affirmation, as if it were an object, a thing, and not a creature, who has life, rights, and who is not a woman of tomorrow but a girl of today, with the right granted by Article 30 of the Childhood and Adolescence Code to live in a family. It is lamentable that atrocities like this, **" buying "**, a child, profiting from the pain of others, be endorsed by a Legal Professional, seen from the private perspective, as well as in the exercise of jurisdiction, given that the Trial Judge, without analyzing all the details of this matter, limited himself to stating that there was a lack of right of the plaintiff and a lack of passive standing (legitimación pasiva) of the defendant. We cannot rend our garments at news in the written or televised press about the trafficking of children from a Central American country, which was recently reported, and let pass before our own eyes, and in the very house of Justice, the supposed prosaic negotiation of a girl, for the sole sin of her mother being a single mother, without ethnic roots in this nation. " **XIX.-** Our country is a nation with advanced legislation; in this sense, that is how we have the Law for the Promotion of the Social Equality of Women, enacted in 1990, the Law Against Sexual Harassment in Employment and Teaching, disseminated in 1995, the Law Against Domestic Violence, propagated in 1996, Reform to the Electoral Code (quota) of that same 1996, the Equal Opportunities Law for Persons with Disabilities, of 1996, the HIV-AIDS Law, the General Law for Older Adults, The Childhood and Adolescence Code, of (1998), the Law Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, published in 1999, the Responsible Paternity Law, of April 2000. However, paper and the norm are not enough; incorporating a gender perspective will also require the awareness of the law operator, to apply those rights that women need to be able to live as full human beings, to account for the specificity that the violation of those rights acquires by the sole condition of being women, and to respond with efficacy to strengthen the judicial apparatus of this Rule of Law, which does not tolerate unequal relationships between women and men.

**XX.-** The substantive prerequisites are examinable even ex officio as a mandatory analysis in every judgment. In this regard, for a long time, the Court of Cassation (Sala de Casación) has pronounced itself in that sense, among other pronouncements No. 76 of 15 hours 15 minutes on July 22, 1959: No. 34 of 10 hours 20 minutes on March 22, 1959. Such prerequisites are **the right, the current interest, and standing (legitimación) -active and passive-. **Standing is held by the party claiming to have a certain legal relationship with the procedural claim (**Article 104 of the Civil Procedure Code**). The examination of this prerequisite by the First Chamber of the Court is of interesting note, which in substance analyzed it as follows: **"IX.-(...) Legitimized in the cause is the one who can demand that the petitions made in the complaint be resolved, that is, the existence or not of the material right being claimed, by means of a favorable or unfavorable judgment ...Legitimatio ad causam constitutes, then, a condition for the issuance of a judgment on the merits, but not of the favorable judgment... it refers to the substantial relationship that must exist between plaintiff and defendant and to the substantial interest being discussed in the process..."** (FIRST CHAMBER OF THE COURT No. 89, 14 hours 50 minutes on June 19, 1991). It is, then, standing a substantive prerequisite that, in the event of not existing in the subjects involved in the process, hinders resolving the merits of the debated matter, which leads to the issuing of an "inhibitory judgment" according to the terminology used by the Chamber in the aforementioned resolution. For all that has been said, and the factual foundation, the appealed resolution is revoked and in its place the exceptions of Lack of Right and Lack of Passive Standing in the Cause (Legitimación ad causam pasiva), analyzed ex officio by the lower court, are declared without merit, given that the plaintiff does have the right to bring this process against the father of her daughter, for being a mother in exercise of parental authority (patria potestad), with all the attributes that this exercise, pardon the redundancy, allows her, according to Articles 140 and following of the Family Code, and the Summary Complaint for Modification of Guardianship, Upbringing, and Education established by [Nombre 001] **against [Nombre 002] **is declared with merit, the latter being obliged to return immediately the minor **K.A.P.** to her mother, under the warning that in case of omission, they may be prosecuted for the crime of disobedience as provided for and sanctioned by Article 307 of the Penal Code. The claims that will be mentioned are denied for not being procedural aspirations: 1) That this process be given course. (It is not a procedural petition that must be resolved in the final judgment; it is the mandatory filing of the complaint, which gives continuation thereof, at the instance of a party). 3) That the intervention of PANI and the judicial authorities be ordered, so that by force, if possible, her daughter be brought to the Court (It is not a procedural petition). 4) That she be granted the deposit of her daughter, while this matter is resolved (It is not a procedural requirement; it is a precautionary measure). 5) That the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia be considered as a party ( It is not a procedural dispute; it is a formality of the process, according to section 5 of the Family Code)."

"I.-SOBRE LOS HECHOS PROBADOS: Se acoge el hecho probado que contiene la sentencia apelada, por ser fiel reflejo de lo que informan los autos, y se debe además tener como probado: b) Que el señor [Nombre 002], en declaración confesional que rindió a las nueve horas del seis de febrero del dos mil tres, confesó en lo conducente: " No es cierto porque la niña se encuentra bien y no es correcto que una niña aún siendo niña se encuentre con una madre soltera que vive en el mismo lugar de trabajo y podría ser incomodada por los demás. ... [Nombre 001] sufre por otra cosa, porque yo no le permito salir conmigo y porque no le hice más entrega de dineros.... No, no es cierto porque mi esposa se llevó a [Nombre 001] para mi casa porque habían negociado a mi hija, también para aclarar que la que hizo la negociación de mi hija fue [Nombre 001], la entrega de mi hija la hizo [Nombre 001] en el hospital....Cuando se llevó a cabo la negociación entre [Nombre 001] y mi esposa, [Nombre 001] tenía tres meses de embarazo...." (ver folios 68 a 70). c) Que el Peritaje Forense Psicosocial, practicado a las partes, en su impresión diagnóstica se apuntó: ".. Si bien la niña por los acontecimientos surgidos identifica a doña [Nombre 009] en el rol de madre, no se descarta la posibilidad de que con un adecuado manejo de la situación, doña [Nombre 001] pueda retomar su derecho parental y ejercerlo de forma conveniente, sin que con esto se violente la estabilidad de la infante. Para ello sería fundamental el apoyo de Profesionales del Patronato Nacional de la Infancia, de modo que se garantice un respeto absoluto a los derechos fundamentales de la niña en cuestión, por encima de los intereses particulares que presentan las partes en conflicto..." (ver folios 74 a 82). d) Que realizada una visita domiciliaria en el hogar de las personas involucradas en este asunto, interrogada la señora [Nombre 009], por los integrantes del Tribunal encargados de la actuación, ésta manifestó: " que no quiere que se lleven a la niña porque [Nombre 001] se las vendió.." (ver folio 116). Se elimina el hecho indemostrado por impertinente. II.-El señor Juez de instancia, rechaza esta demanda, dictaminando, que la actora debió probar las afirmaciones de los hechos que en su criterio le daban sustento a su pretensión y que sin embargo no lo hizo así, por lo que existe una falta de derecho y una falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva en el demandado, presupuestos de fondo necesarios en toda sentencia estimatoria, analizados en este caso de oficio, por no haber sido alegados como excepciones por el accionado. III.-La accionante, sustenta este proceso, en que fue engañada por el padre de su hija, quien le pidió que firmase un documento en donde le otorgaba el permiso de cuidarle a su hija mientras ella trabajaba y ahora se da cuenta que lo rubricado fue " supuestamente una entrega voluntaria y directa de ella, a la esposa del progenitor de su hija, para adoptar a esta criatura ", en realidad en este proceso y por la sumariedad del mismo, no se puede discutir, ni se debe entrar a conocer de la validez, y eficacia de dicho contrato, será en otra vía en donde se debata este si así las partes quisieran hacerlo, lo que en este proceso, resta es declarar o nó el derecho que tiene la accionante de tener consigo a su hija. IV.- Los argumentos del demandado, para fundamentar su resistencia han sido entre otros, que la accionante " ... no podía encargarse de su hija...que le pidió dinero a cambio de la entrega de ésta... que le entregó cuatrocientos mil colones a cambio de la firma ante el notario,.. que este proceso es solamente para perjudicar la adopción iniciada por su esposa. Aunado a lo anterior, tenemos que en la prueba confesional a que fue sometido el señor [Nombre 002], confesó: " No es cierto porque la niña se encuentra bien y no es correcto que una niña aún siendo niña se encuentre con una madre soltera que vive en el mismo lugar de trabajo y podría ser incomodada por los demás. ... [Nombre 001] sufre por otra cosa, porque yo no le permito salir conmigo y porque no le hice más entrega de dineros.... No, no es cierto porque mi esposa se llevó a [Nombre 001] para mi casa porque habían negociado a mi hija, también para aclarar que la que hizo la negociación de mi hija fue [Nombre 001], la entrega de mi hija la hizo [Nombre 001] en el hospital....Cuando se llevó a cabo la negociación entre [Nombre 001] y mi esposa, [Nombre 001] tenía tres meses de embarazo...."V.- Durante la década del noventa, se produjeron avances evidentes en relación a la vigencia de los derechos humanos de las mujeres y de las niñas en el sistema interamericano. Estos avances se explican, en parte por le impacto, de la Conferencia Mundial de Derechos Humanos (Viena, 1993), que en el texto de su Declaración reconoce por primera vez que " los derechos humanos de las mujeres y las niñas son parte integrante e indivisible de los derechos humanos universales...", y que la violencia de género es incompatible con la dignidad humana, y de la Conferencia Mundial de la Mujer (Beijing, 1995, y sus reuniones preparatorias a nível americano). Estos procesos contribuyeron para que el sistema interamericano prestara mayor atención a las violaciones de derechos que las mujeres sufren principalmente por su condición de mujeres y constituyeron el marco en el que fue elaborada la Convención para Prevenir, Sancionar y Erradicar la Violencia contra la Mujer conocida como Convención de Belem do Pará, que fue aprobada por la Asamblea General de la O.E.A. el nueve de junio de mil novecientos noventa y cuatro y entró en vigor el cinco de marzo de mil novecientos noventa y cinco, y que actualmente cuenta con el más alto nivel de ratificaciones entre los instrumentos de derechos humanos vigentes en la región. El artículo 3, de la Convención Interamericana para Prevenir, Sancionar y Erradicar la Violencia Contra la Mujer, "Convención de Belén do Pará", reza: "Toda mujer tiene derecho a una vida libre de violencia, tanto en el ámbito público como en el privado". El artículo 4 de la cita ley, dice: " Toda mujer tiene derecho al reconocimiento, goce, ejercicio y protección de todos los derechos humanos y a las libertades consagradas por los instrumentos regionales e internacionales sobre derechos humanos. Estos derechos comprenden, entre otros: a) el derecho a que se respete su vida; b) el derecho a que se respete su integridad física, psíquica y moral; c) ...d) ... e) el derecho a que se respete la dignidad inherente a su persona y que se proteja a su familia; f) el derecho a igualdad de protección ante la ley y de la ley; g) el derecho a un recurso sencillo y rápido ante los tribunales competentes, que la ampare contra actos que violen sus derechos; h)... i)...j)...". Por su parte el artículo 51 de la Constitución Política al hablar de la familia estatuye: La familia, como elemento natural y fundamento de la sociedad, tiene derecho a la protección especial del Estado. Igualmente tendrán derecho a esa protección la madre, el niño, el anciano y el enfermo desvalido. Nuestra Sala Constitucional, mediante el Voto No. 3502-94, formula lo siguiente: "...Sólo basta citar los artículos, 11, 52 y 55 de la Constitución para deducir de allí la obligación estatal de proteger la familia, la madre, el anciano, el enfermo desvalido y el menor, obligación que anularía todo acto que de forma alguna menoscabe los derechos de éstos grupos ". El principio del interés de la familia y de los hijos lo recoge también el artículo 2 del Código de Familia, en concordancia con lo enunciado por el artículo 52 de la Constitución Política. VI.-El principio "Iura novit Curiae" (El Juez conoce el Derecho), permite al Juzgador dar aplicación al régimen jurídico que se adecue a la situación jurídica descrita en el debate procesal, aun y cuando las partes no lo hayan traído a cuenta en sus pretensiones. Además dependiendo de cada caso específico, ha sido dotado el Juez de Familia, de un poder llamado Moderador y Regulador, los cuales consisten en autorizar al Juez para resolver cada litigio en concreto, no con regla de derecho, sino investido de poder de decisión, apreciar cada caso, seguir su desarrollo e ir tomando o tomar la decisión o decisiones más oportunas, de acuerdo con las circunstancias. VII.- Es de interés público el cumplimiento de los derechos de la niñez y la adolescencia y por consiguiente su defensa o restitución en caso de amenaza o violación de los mismos. " EL INTERES SUPERIOR DEL NIÑO , NIÑA Y ADOLESCENTE ", es una premisa fundamental de la doctrina de la protección integral, es el principio rector del interés superior de niño, base para la interpretación y aplicación de la normativa de la niñez y la adolescencia. Artículos 1, y 5 de la Ley 7739, Código de la Niñez y Adolescencia. Con fundamento en este principio se establece una línea de acción de carácter obligatorio para las instituciones públicas, las entidades privadas de bienestar social, los tribunales de justicia, las autoridades administrativas y los órganos administrativos. El artículo 8 de dicho cuerpo legal recita: JERARQUIA NORMATIVA. Las normas de este Código se aplicarán e interpretarán de conformidad con la Constitución Política, la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño y demás fuentes normativas del derecho de la niñez y la adolescencia, de acuerdo con la siguiente jerarquía: a) La Constitución Política. b) La Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño. c) Los demás tratados y convenios internacionales sobre la materia. d) Los principios rectores de este Código. e) El Código de Familia y las leyes atinentes a la materia. f) Los usos y costumbres propios del medio sociocultural. g) Los principios generales del Derecho. Así mismo los artículos 13, 29 y 30 de esta misma ley enuncia: DERECHO A LA PROTECCION ESTATAL: La persona menor de edad tendrá el derecho de ser protegida por el Estado contra cualquier forma de abandono o abuso intencional o negligente, de carácter cruel, inhumano, degradante o humillante que afecte el desarrollo integral. DERECHO INTEGRAL: El padre, la madre o la persona encargada está obligados a velar por el desarrollo físico, intelectual, moral, espiritual y social de sus hijos menores de dieciocho años. DERECHO A LA VIDA FAMILIAR: Las personas menores de edad tendrán derecho a conocer a su padre y madre, asimismo, a crecer y desarrollarse a su lado y ser cuidadas por ellos. Tendrán derecho a permanecer en su hogar del cual no podrán ser expulsados ni impedidas de regresar a él, salvo decisión judicial que así lo establezca. El artículo 115 del código en rito formula: DEBERES DE LOS JUECES. Serán deberes de los Jueces que conozcan de asuntos en los que esté involucrada una persona menor de edad: a)... b)... c)... d) Conducir el proceso en busca de la verdad real., e).......j).... VIII.-También los artículos 3,4,6,18,19,24 y 27 de la Convención de los Derechos del Niño, aprobada por Ley 7184 de 18 de julio de 1990, regula que " En todas la medidas concernientes a los niños, que tomen las instituciones públicas o privadas de bienestar social, los tribunales, las autoridades administrativas o los órganos legislativos, una consideración primordial a que se atenderá será el interés superior del niño." y " Los Estados Partes velarán porque el niño no sea separado de sus padres contra la voluntad de éstos, excepto cuando a reserva de revisión judicial, las autoridades competentes determinen, de conformidad con la ley y los procedimientos aplicables, que tal separación es necesaria en el interés superior del niño..." y es la normativa que puede tomarse como, pilares de las medidas de protección especial a favor de la Niñez y la Adolescencia. Así mismo existen también instrumentos internacionales adoptados por Costa Rica, entre ellos el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos, según ley 4229 de 11 de diciembre de 1986, y en especial la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos, suscrita en San José, Costa Rica, el 22 de noviembe de 1969, y aprobaba por Ley 4534 de 23 de febrero de 1970, que en su artículo 19 reza: " Todo niño tiene derecho a las medidas de protección que su condición de menor requieren por parte de su familia, de la sociedad y del Estado". Por último a partir del 30 de setiembre de mil novecientos noventa y nueve, las medidas de protección se encuentran reguladas en el Protocolo Adicional a la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos en materia de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, conocido este instrumento como Protocolo de San Salvador, aprobado mediante Ley No. 7907, publicado en la Gaceta No. 190, en el artículo 15, que dice: .."Los Estados parte mediante el presente Protocolo se comprometen a brindar adecuada protección al grupo familiar y en especial a:....c) Adoptar medidas especiales de protección de los adolescentes a fin de garantizar la plena maduración de sus capacidades física, intelectual y moral...". IX. Es de suma importancia, velar por la integridad física, moral, social y psicológica de los menores, como derecho que tienen los Niños y Niñas, que se pueden resumir en cuatro categorías: Supervivencia, Crecimiento, Protección y Participación. Dentro de la Supervivencia se tiene el derecho a la vida, a la salud, y a la felicidad. En el Crecimiento el derecho a una familia, a ser educado en un espíritu de paz , dignidad, tolerancia, libertad, igualdad, y solidaridad que le permita crecer como una persona única, distinta y especial,. En la protección se ostenta el derecho a que se le respete la identidad e integridad, a ser protegido de todo abuso físico, sexual o mental, a no ser maltratado ni castigado. En lo de participación, el derecho a jugar a pensar, a expresarse. X.-Mediante la valoración de la prueba se " trata de señalar, con la mayor exactitud posible, cómo gravitan y que influencia ejercen los diversos medios de prueba, sobre la decisión que el magistrado debe expedir". ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos del Derecho Procesal Civil, Ediciones De Palma, Reimpresión de la tercera edición de 1958, Buenos Aires, 1978.) " La apreciación o valoración de la prueba representa el momento culminante de la actividad procesal, determina si el esfuerzo, el trabajo, el dinero y el tiempo invertidos en la práctica de las pruebas han sido o no provechosos, es decir si esa prueba ha cumplido o no el fin a que estaba destinada: llevarle la convicción al juez." (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. El Proceso Civil, Tomo II, Editorial Universidad, Buenos Aires, 1988). " La valoración de los medios de prueba no es otra cosa que determinar su fuerza de convicción individual y comparativa con el objeto de establecer los hechos del juicio". ([Nombre5], [Nombre6]. La Valoración de la Prueba en el Proceso, Temis, Bogotá, 1967, página 76). " El tema de la valoración de la prueba busca una respuesta para la pregunta: ¿ qué eficacia tienen los medios de prueba establecidos en el derecho positivo ? " ([Nombre1], [Nombre2]., Op. cit, página 257). XI.-En Costa Rica de acuerdo a la teoría de la carga de la prueba y dentro de una concepción más elaborada de la noción onus probandi contiene el artículo 317 del Código Procesal Civil, : que el actor debe probar los hechos constitutivos de su propio derecho, mientras que el demandado debe probar los hechos modificativos, extintivos o impeditivos, que paralizan o extinguen la pretensión del actor, conforme a la norma que sustenta su derecho sustantivo. Destacándose entonces que los medios de prueba deben entenderse " como aquellos elementos procesales, que le permiten a las partes, y también al Juez, aportar la prueba necesaria que facilite el llegar a la constatación o no de la veracidad de los hechos que han servido de fundamento a la pretensión y a su resistencia ", mientras que la finalidad de la prueba es la de permitir que el Juez resuelva la controversia con arreglo a la situación fáctica que se ha tenido por cierta, de ahí que esa finalidad no es más que el establecimiento de la verdad de las afirmaciones que se han producido en el contradictorio. XII.-Con relación a las reglas de la valoración están fijadas en el artículo 330 del Código Procesal Civil, el cual indica que los " los jueces apreciarán los medios de prueba en conjunto, de acuerdo con las reglas de la sana crítica, salvo texto legal en contrario ". A pesar de esto, en materia probatoria, específicamente en Derecho de Familia el artículo 8, párrafo segundo del Código de Familia reza: " Sin embargo, los jueces en materia de familia interpretarán las probanzas sin sujeción a las reglas positivas de la prueba común, atendiendo todas las circunstancias y los elementos de convicción que los autos suministren, pero, en todo caso, deberán hacer constar las razones de la valoración". Con referencia a este guarismo la jurisprudencia ha dicho que el mismo " contempla, con alcance de normas generales, los dos parámetros básicos, que en materia de familia, deben acatarse al apreciar la prueba, a saber: el principio de comunidad o de adquisición de los medios probatorios y el de su valoración de acuerdo con las reglas de la sana crítica. En virtud del primero, los órganos jurisdiccionales están legalmente imposibilitados para preferir cualquiera de los aportados y evacuados durante la substanciación del proceso, toda vez que, los mismos tienen plena eficacia en favor o en contra de las diferentes partes, aún de aquélla que los haya producido. Esto no significa, sin embargo, que no pueda restársele valor demostrativo a alguno o a varios de ellos, tomando en cuenta, por ejemplo, su parcialidad, su falta de referencia a los hechos de la litis o su evidente carácter complaciente; todo lo cual ha de ser justificado de modo expreso. Por el segundo, se exige, al apreciarlos, la aplicación razonada y crítica de la lógica, del buen entendimiento, de la psicología, de la sociología e incluso, de la imaginación, a la luz de la realidad de la vida y de la experiencia humana..." ( Sala Segunda de la Corte, Resolución No. 39 de las 10:20 horas del 11 de febrero de 1998. Proceso de Familia. A.M.M.C c/J.J.M.R). XIII.-Comunidad de la prueba, significa que " la actividad valorativa de los diversos medios de prueba el juez la ejercita sin tener en cuenta su origen, pues, es virtud del principio de comunidad, denominado también de adquisición, no interesa si ingresaron al proceso por actividad oficiosa del órgano jurisdiccional o a instancia de cualquiera de las partes, sea demandante o demandada o inclusive, de un tercero interviniente". (De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit.,página 641). Se señala entonces que el Juez debe de considerar todos los medios de prueba en conjunto, sin importar el origen de las mismas, y además deben "apreciarse como un todo, en conjunto, sin que importe que su resultado sea adverso a quien la aportó, porque no existe un derecho sobre su valor de convicción, una vez que han sido aportadas legalmente, su resultado depende sólo de la fuerza de convicción que en ellas se encuentre". ( De [Nombre3], [Nombre4]. Op. cit.,página 173). XIV.-La Sana Crítica se define como la " calificación atribuida a las reglas que rigen los juicios de valor emitidos por el entendimiento humano en procura de su verdad, por apoyarse en proposiciones lógicas correctas y por fundarse en observaciones de experiencia confirmadas por la realidad". ( [Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Vocabulario Jurídico, página 532). XV.-Referente a la sana crítica la Jurisprudencia ha señalado que: " son las reglas del correcto entendimiento humano, contingentes y variables en relación con la experiencia del tiempo y del lugar, pero estables y permanentes en cuanto a los principios lógicos en que debe apoyarse la sentencia y que obligan a los jueces a proceder a la valoración de los hechos puros y simples de que dan testimonio los testigos a la luz de la realidad de la vida o de acuerdo con lo que aconseja la experiencia humana, sin recurrir a forzadas deducciones." (Sala Segunda de la Corte Suprema de Justicia en sus sentencias números 157 de las diez horas del veintinueve de setiembre de mil novecientos ochenta y nueve y 191 de las nueve horas diez minutos del dieciséis de setiembre de mil novecientos noventa y tres), y " Con arreglo a este (relativamente) nuevo sistema, el juzgador, en sus esfuerzos por desentrañar la verdad, ya no se encuentra aherrojado por un procedimiento reglado o de prueba tasada (cuyo valor está predeterminado por ley). Puede ahora ejercer su labor de apreciación con base en principios de la experiencia, de la razón y la lógica -acompañadas éstas por la imaginación, la sicología y la sociología-, así como de los conocimientos científicos y técnicos cuyo empleo resulte necesario, en aras de una exitosa dilucidación". ( Sala Segunda de la Corte, resolución No. 293 de las 15:15 horas del 09 de octubre de 1996, Proceso de Familia J.L.V. c/ Sucesión de D.A.A.),. De esta manera las reglas que rigen este sistema de valoración "... son las reglas del correcto entendimiento humano, contingentes y variables en relación con la experiencia del tiempo y del lugar, pero estables y permanentes en cuanto a los principios lógicos en que debe apoyarse la sentencia, y que obligan a los jueces a proceder a la valoración de los hechos puros y simples de que dan testimonio los testigos, a la luz de la realidad de la vida o de acuerdo con lo que aconseja la experiencia humana, sin recurrir a forzadas deducciones". ( Tribunal de Familia, Primer Circuito, San José, Resolución No. 870 de las 14:15 horas del 13 de octubre de 1998, Proceso de familia. M.A.C.L. c/ J.L.S.V.). XVI.- La " sana crítica, libre convicción o convicción sincera, significan, es cierto, que el magistrado no está sometido a ataduras o preconceptos legales que le fijen a priori el valor de la prueba, pero la apreciación que haga sobre este valor debe ser razonada o exteriorizada. ". (De [Nombre7]. cit, página 605). El juez tiene libertad para apreciar la prueba, pero ello no quiere decir que lo puede hacer arbitrariamente, por el contrario, está en la obligación de respetar las reglas de la sana crítica que son: " ...las reglas del correcto entendimiento humano. En ellas interfieren las reglas de la lógica, con las reglas de la experiencia del juez. Unas y otras contribuyen de igual manera a que el magistrado pueda analizar la prueba...con arreglo a la sana razón y a un conocimiento experimental de las cosas". ( [Nombre1], [Nombre2]. Fundamentos de Derecho Procesal Civil. páginas 270-271). XVII.- De todo lo anterior podemos concluir que en nuestro país la prueba debe ser analizada en forma unitaria y de acuerdo con la sana crítica, por lo cual no es posible que se pueda dar relevancia a ningún tipo de prueba por encima de otro. XVIII.-Del estudio de la prueba testimonial sea las deposiciones de folios 58 a 63, de [Nombre 010] y [Nombre 011], la declaración que en confesión hizo el demandado [Nombre 002] visible en folios 68 a 70, y del discurso hecho por éste último al contestar la demanda, el Peritaje Forense Psicosocial de folios 74 a 82, y el Acta de Visitas Domiciliarias de folios 116 y 117, y analizada esas pruebas sin sujección a las reglas positivas de la prueba común, atendiendo a todas las circunstancias y los elementos de convicción que los autos suministren, conforme lo regula el artículo 8 del Código de Familia, considera este Tribunal en pleno, que estudiado los antecedentes del caso, no cabe la menor duda que estamos en presencia de actos descrimintarios (sic) por razones de género, por tratarse de una madre soltera, de otra nacionalidad y con pocos recursos económicos, a quien arbitrariamente, se le arrebató su retoño, y luego sin aversión alguna, se informa que no tiene derecho que reclamar, porque la niña " fue comprada, a contrario sensu, porque ella se las vendió, hizo una negociación con la esposa del demandado, hizo una entrega directa para acceder a una adopción ", afirmación inelegante, como si se tratase de un objeto, una cosa, y no de una criatura, que tiene vida, derechos, y que no es una mujer del mañana sino una niña del hoy, con el derecho que le otorga el artículo 30 del Código de la Niñez y Adolescencia de vivir en familia. Es lamentable, que atrocidades como esta, " comprar ", a un niño, lucrando con el dolor ajeno, sea avalada, por un Profesional en Derecho, visto desde la óptica privada, así como en el ejercicio de la jurisdicción, dado que el Juez de Instancia, sin analizar todos los pormenores de este asunto, se limitó a externar que existía falta de derecho de la actora y falta de legitimación pasiva del demandado. No podemos rasgarnos las vestiduras, ante noticias de la prensa escrita o televisada, del tráfico de niños provenientes de un país centroamericano, que recientemente se informó, y dejar pasar en nuestra propia vista, y en la misma casa de la Justicia, la supuesta prosaica negociación de una niña, por el solo pecado de su madre de ser madre soltera, sin raíces étnicas en esta nación." XIX.- Nuestro país, es una nación con legislación de avanzada, en este sentido, es así como tenemos la Ley de Promoción de la Igualdad Social de la Mujer, promulgada en 1990, la Ley Contra el Hostigamiento Sexual en el Empleo y la Docencia, difundida en 1995, la Ley Contra la Violencia Doméstica, propalada en 1996, Reforma al Código Electoral (cuota) de ese mismo 1996, la Ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades para las personas con discapacidad, de 1996, la Ley de VIH-SIDA, la Ley General de Personas Adultas Mayores, El Código de la Niñez y la Adolescencia, de (1998), la Ley Contra la Explotación Sexual de las Personas Menores de Edad, publicada en 1999, la Ley de Paternidad Responsable, de abril del 2000. Sin embargo no basta con el papel y la norma, incorporar la perspectiva de género requerirá también de la concienciación del operador del derecho, para aplicar aquellos derechos que las mujeres necesitan para poder vivir como seres humanos plenos, dar cuenta de la especificidad que adquiere la violación de esos derechos por la sola condición de ser mujeres, y responder con eficacia para fortalecer, el aparato judicial, de este Estado de Derecho, que no tolere relaciones desiguales entre mujeres y varones. XX.-Los presupuestos de fondo son examinables aún de oficio como análisis obligado en toda sentencia. Al respecto desde vieja data, la Sala de Casación se ha pronunciado en tal sentido, entro otros pronunciamientos No. 76 de 15 horas 15 minutos del 22 de julio de 1959: No. 34 de 10 horas 20 minutos del 22 de marzo de 1959. Tales presupuestos son el derecho, el interes actual y la legitimación -activa y pasiva-. La legitimación la ostenta la parte que alega tener una determinada relación jurídica con la pretensión procesal (artículo 104 del Código Procesal Civil). De interesante cita resulta el examen de este presupuesto por parte de la Sala Primera de la Corte, que en sustancia así lo analizó: "IX.-(...) Legitimado en la causa es quien puede exigir que se resuelvan las peticiones hechas en la demanda, es decir,la existencia o no del derecho material que se pretende, por medio de sentencia favoable o desfavorable ...La legitimatio ad causam constituye, entonces condición para el dictado de la sentencia de fondo o mérito, pero no de la sentencia favorable...se refiere a la relación sustancial que debe existir entre actor y demandado y al interés sustancial que se discute en el proceso..."(SALA PRIMERA DE LA CORTE No.89, 14 horas 50 minutos del 19 de junio de 1991). Es pues, la legitimación un presupuesto de fondo que en caso de no existir en los sujetos que intervienen en el proceso obstaculiza resolver el fondo del asunto debatido lo que conduce al dictado de una "sentencia inhibitoria" según la terminología empleada por la Sala en la resolución supracitada. Por todo lo que viene dicho, y la fundamentación fáctica, se revoca la resolución recurrida y en su lugar se declaran sin lugar las excepciones de Falta de Derecho y Falta de Legitimación ad causam pasiva, analizadas de oficio por el ad-quo, toda vez que si le asiste derecho a la accionante, de plantear este proceso contra el padre de su hija, por ser madre en ejercicio de la patria potestad, con todos los atributos que este ejercicio, valga la redundancia le permite, según los artículos 140 y siguientes del Código de Familia, y se declara con lugar la demanda Abreviada de Modificación de Guarda Crianza y Educación establecida por [Nombre 001] contra [Nombre 002], debiendo éste último devolver en forma inmediata a la menor K.A.P. a su madre, bajo el apercibimiento de que en caso de omisión, se le podrá seguir causa por el delito de desobediencia que prevé y sanciona el artículo 307 del Código Penal. Se deniegan las pretensiones que se dirán por no ser aspiraciones procesales: 1) Que se dé curso a este proceso. (No es solicitación procesal que deba de ser resuelta en fallo final, es la obligatoria presentación de la demanda, que da prosecución del mismo, a instancia de parte). 3) Que se ordene la intervención del Pani y de las autoridades judiciales, para que por la fuerza de ser posible, se haga llegar a su hija al Juzgado (No es petición procesal). 4) Que se le otorgue el depósito de su hija, mientras este asunto se dilucida (No es exigencia procesal, es una medida cautelar). 5) Que se tenga como parte al Patronato Nacional de la Infancia ( No es porfía procesal, es una formalidad del proceso, de acuerdo al numeral 5 del Código de Familia)."