Costa Rica Travel: February 2006

Costa Rica Borders

There have been disagreements regarding navigational rights in the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border area.

Nicaragua and Costa Rica signed a three-year agreement in September of 2002 to defer presenting these issues before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution.

Meanwhile, the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica have agreed to work towards an amicable solution and to jointly fund community development projects in the border area.

On 29 November 2005 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) established the time-limits for the submission of initial pleadings in the dispute brought by Costa Rica against Nicaragua on 29 September 2005. For the filing of the Memorial by Costa Rica, the ICJ established 29 August 2006 as the time-limit. For Nicaragua's Counter-Memorial, the Court fixed the time-limit as 29 May 2007.

Article Source: travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html
Article Source: www.juscogens.net/juscogens/2005/12/courts_tribunal_1.html

Criminal Penalties in Costa Rica

Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998, it is a crime to use the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including the Internet, to transmit information about a minor under the age of 16 for criminal sexual purposes that include, among other things, the production of child pornography. This same law makes it a crime to use any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including the Internet, to transport obscene materials to minors under the age of 16.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Costa Rica are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. In addition to the criminal penalties they may face, tourists who purchase or sell illegal drugs or use the services of prostitutes greatly increase their risk of personal harm. Several Travelers have died in Costa Rica in recent years in incidents related to drug use or patronage of prostitutes.

Under Costa Rican law, suspects in criminal cases may be held in jail until the investigation is completed and the prosecutor is ready to proceed to trial. This pretrial detention can last two years, and in some cases, longer.

Article Source: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html

Costa Rica: Criminal Penalties

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States, and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.

Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Costa Rican law, even unknowingly, may be arrested, imprisoned, fined and/or expelled.

Soliciting the services of a minor for sexual purposes is illegal in Costa Rica, and is punishable by imprisonment. The Costa Rican government has established an aggressive program to discourage sexual tourism and to punish severely those who engage in sexual activity with minors. Several U.S. citizens are serving long sentences in Costa Rica following conviction of crimes related to sexual activity with minors. These acts are also illegal under U.S. law, even if the act takes place abroad.

Under the PROTECT Act of April 2003, it is a crime, prosecutable in the United States, for a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18, whether or not the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien intended to engage in such illicit sexual conduct prior to going abroad. For purposes of the PROTECT Act, illicit sexual conduct includes any commercial sex act in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18. The law defines a commercial sex act as any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by a person under the age of 18.

Article Source: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html

Costa Rica Travel

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Costa Rica Borders

Tuesday

Criminal Penalties in Costa Rica

Monday

Costa Rica: Criminal Penalties

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