An historic court ruling makes equal marriage law in 16 countries

by Tim Gibson (mygwork)

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights finally reached a verdict today on a marriage equality petition submitted by the Costa Rican President two years ago. The court ties together 20 countries which signed the American Convention on Human Rights, this includes 16 countries which have yet to legalise same-sex marriage. The verdict in favour of legalising equal marriage orders these countries to do the same.

These countries include: Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Suriname.

The court orders these countries to “guarantee access to all existing forms of domestic legal systems, including the right to marriage, in order to ensure the protection of all the rights of families formed by same-sex couples without discrimination.”

The court recommended that these rights be locked in with a temporary decree while each government goes about the processes of passing more permanent laws. Costa Rica has already confirmed its support of the court’s landmark ruling – which will effect more than 280 million people living in those 16 countries – with a statement: “Love is a human condition that should be respected, without discrimination of any kind.”

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