Source: Blabbeando
The high court ordered changes to 42 norms that range from Criminal, Civil and Disciplinary Codes, to the special health plan available to military forces.
The Magistrates embraced a position paper submitted by their peer, Rodrigo Escobar Gil.
They ruled that the challenged dispositions did not justify the discrimination they instituted, or that the variances with regards to same-sex couples placed these people in a position of vulnerability before the law.
And in both cases, the Constitutional Court held that the right to equality was violated.
Hence, provisions such as those contained the Disciplinary and Penal Codes, which establish the right against incrimination by a spouse, should also be applied to heterosexual (sic) partners.
Another instance is that of crimes related to domestic violence; victims can be same-sex partners or aggravation imposed by law for crimes against the person.
This includes cases where reparations are made to victims of heinous crimes.
According to an update on the Blabbeando post, this also means that “gay Colombian citizens can grant foreign same-sex partners immigration rights in the same way that married heterosexual partners can sponsor their spouses for immigration purposes.”
It continues to amaze us how countries which many might consider less progressive at first glance — certainly Colombia has been rocked by the instabilities and violence of that region and it’s drug wars — are recognizing the need for equality under the law for GLBT citizens.
Absolutely incredible!
Another category in which the US is falling behind – equality of its citizens before the law.
Never thought I’d be able to say that.
It’s embarrassing!