Sepehri, A. 1992. ‘Balance of Payments, Output <strong>and</strong> Prices,’World Development 20, no. 2: 289–302.TANGO (<strong>Tanzania</strong> Association of NGOs). 1999. Directoryof Non-<strong>Government</strong>al Organizations in <strong>Tanzania</strong>. Dar esSalaam.TASOET (<strong>Tanzania</strong> Social Economic Trust). 2002. MakingPRSP Work in Globalized Economy. Arusha. <strong>Tanzania</strong>.<strong>Tanzania</strong> Demographic <strong>and</strong> Health Survey. 1992. NBS (NationalBureau of Statistics). 1993. TDHS 1991/1992.Dar es Salaam.———. 1996. NBS (National Bureau of Statistics). 1997. <strong>Tanzania</strong><strong>and</strong> Measure Evaluation. TDHS. Dar es Salaam.<strong>Tanzania</strong> Labour Force Survey. 2000. Dar es Salaam.UNICEF (United Nations <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Fund). 1990. Women<strong>and</strong> <strong>Child</strong>ren in <strong>Tanzania</strong>: A Situation Analysis. Dar esSalaam: UNICEF.———. 2001. Situation of <strong>Child</strong>ren in <strong>Tanzania</strong>. Dar es Salaam:UNICEF.URT. 1998. Revised Initial Report on Implementation ofthe CRC in the URT. Dar es Salaam.54 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Girl</strong>-<strong>Child</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>Service</strong> <strong>Provision</strong>
Public <strong>Service</strong>s <strong>and</strong> the <strong>Girl</strong>-<strong>Child</strong>in Costa RicaWorld Vision Costa RicaIntroduction<strong>The</strong> establishment of the International Convention on theRights of <strong>Child</strong>ren creates the Doctrine of Integral Protection.This doctrine highlights the progressive recognition ofthe rights, duties <strong>and</strong> guarantees of children <strong>and</strong> adolescentsas persons <strong>and</strong> as active subjects who deserve thefull exercise of their rights.In the Costa Rican case, the influence of the Doctrine ofIntegral Protection is materialised in the approval of theCode for <strong>Child</strong>ren <strong>and</strong> Adolescents in 1998, whichrecognises the set of rights, duties <strong>and</strong> responsibilities ofminors <strong>and</strong> reconstructs a national system <strong>and</strong> local systemsfor the protection of the rights of children <strong>and</strong> adolescents.However, these efforts are limited due to the picture ofsocial deterioration that Costa Rica is undergoing, as minorsare victims of a society that lacks a solid basis ofmoral <strong>and</strong> spiritual values. <strong>The</strong> Costa Rican family appearsto be a weak, defenceless structure in the face of the social<strong>and</strong> economic issues that the country is going through.In the first place, the state must ensure for the child populationa healthy living environment that provides themwith emotional <strong>and</strong> physical well-being. <strong>The</strong> Code for <strong>Child</strong>ren<strong>and</strong> Adolescents states: “It shall be the general obligationof the State to adopt the administrative, legislative,budget <strong>and</strong> any other measures necessary to guaranteethe full effectiveness of the fundamental rights of minorpersons” (Law 7739, art. 4). <strong>The</strong> state, therefore, cannotcite budget limitations as a reason for neglecting the obligationsmentioned above. Nevertheless, the human <strong>and</strong>budget limitations present in services offered by the stateto children make it impossible for attention <strong>and</strong> quality tobe optimum.In the face of this everyday struggle, two different discoursesare heard in the national domain: the discourse onreality (the degree of protection achieved) <strong>and</strong> the discourseon st<strong>and</strong>ards (the degree of protection due)—thediscourse on “being” <strong>and</strong> the discourse on “being obligatedto be”. Minors in a disadvantaged social situation areaffected by a large number of negative situations which theCosta Rican state is not meeting as promptly as necessary,for want of a good political will that would make it possibleto establish <strong>and</strong> implement programmes of prevention<strong>and</strong> adequate treatments.H<strong>and</strong> in h<strong>and</strong> with the existing legal st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> theirunfavourable outcomes goes the process of socialisationcharacteristic of every human culture. An individual learnsattitudes, principles, values <strong>and</strong> patterns of relating whichvary according to the historical, economic, social <strong>and</strong> culturalconditions in which he or she lives.Socialisation includes, among other things, learningbehaviours <strong>and</strong> values according to each person’s sex.Early on, differences are shown in the treatment given togirls <strong>and</strong> boys, <strong>and</strong> one learns to “be a man” or to “be awoman”. For example, boys are allowed greater spatialmobility, are encouraged to be independent <strong>and</strong> to engagein physical activity that can even be rash <strong>and</strong> violent, as wellas to be detached from home responsibilities. <strong>Girl</strong>s, on theother h<strong>and</strong> are prepared to take on home responsibilities,to care for others—even above the satisfaction of theirown life needs—to be submissive <strong>and</strong> dependent.Programmes have been recently created in Costa Rica thatseek to overcome gender inequities <strong>and</strong> to look for solutions;this involves prioritising actions in this stage in lifethat will allow for changes in socio-cultural patterns witha view to gender equality <strong>and</strong> equity. This search for equality<strong>and</strong> equity of opportunities <strong>and</strong> rights for boys <strong>and</strong> girlsWorld Vision Costa Rica Research Coordinating Committee: Dehuel Perez, Director of Operations; Josial Salas, Advocacy Coordinator;<strong>and</strong> Desirée Valverde, external consultant.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Girl</strong>-<strong>Child</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Government</strong> <strong>Service</strong> <strong>Provision</strong> 55
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