Sofía Guillén's Pregnancy Announcement Highlights Legislative Challenges
The Costa Rican lawmaker was initially denied a permit for a medical appointment, raising concerns among fellow legislators.
Sofía Guillén, a deputy from Costa Rica's Frente Amplio party, announced her pregnancy in a manner that has drawn significant attention due to the context surrounding the revelation.
On March 27, 2025, during a meeting of the heads of fraction in the Congress, fellow member Antonio Ortega read a statement signed by six legislators from the Frente Amplio, which emphasized a troubling incident regarding Guillén's recent request for medical leave.
Guillén sought permission to attend a follow-up appointment for her pregnancy scheduled for March 28 but was informed that her request had been denied.
According to Ortega, this denial was rooted in the assertion that too many permits had already been granted for that particular day, conflicting with a potential extraordinary session of the Assembly.
The official correspondence stated, "Me permito comunicarle, que lamentablemente que no se puede dar trámite a la solicitud de permiso presentado para la sesión extraordinaria de plenario del viernes 28 de marzo del año en curso, dado que según el artículo 1 de las solicitudes de licencia del reglamento de ausencias de los diputados y las diputadas: ‘Para su autorización, la Presidencia tendrá en consideración los permisos otorgados...
de modo que no superen las ausencias de diez diputados o diputadas en Plenario...’"
Ortega expressed indignation among his peers regarding the situation, highlighting concerns that this denial could jeopardize the health and well-being of both Guillén and her unborn child.
In the statement read by Ortega, it was argued that the prioritization of earlier approved leave permits, including international travel, over a medical appointment was unacceptable, stating that the right to healthcare should not be subject to perceived subjective decision-making by the assembly's leadership.
The Costa Rican Constitution underscores in Article 50 the right to a healthy environment and collective well-being, which has been interpreted as a fundamental principle supporting the right to health.
Furthermore, Article 51 asserts that families, particularly expectant mothers, are entitled to special protection by the state.
Guillén's right to medical leave aligns with constitutional provisions that ensure proper healthcare access for workers, especially during pregnancy.
Ortega emphasized that it is imperative for employers to facilitate access to healthcare, especially for pregnant employees, as attendance at prenatal appointments is essential for safeguarding both maternal and fetal health.
Following the outcry from the Frente Amplio legislators regarding the denial of Guillén's permit, she received an email later the same day confirming that her request had been approved.
The email stated, "Con instrucciones del señor Presidente (Rodrigo Arias), se procede con el trámite de Permiso de Plenario para el viernes 28 de marzo de 2025, solicitando mediante oficio."
The incident has raised significant issues of legislative policy concerning women in the workplace, particularly pregnant lawmakers.
The Frente Amplio party hopes that this situation acts as a precedent to ensure that similar incidents do not recur with any other legislator.
On March 27, 2025, during a meeting of the heads of fraction in the Congress, fellow member Antonio Ortega read a statement signed by six legislators from the Frente Amplio, which emphasized a troubling incident regarding Guillén's recent request for medical leave.
Guillén sought permission to attend a follow-up appointment for her pregnancy scheduled for March 28 but was informed that her request had been denied.
According to Ortega, this denial was rooted in the assertion that too many permits had already been granted for that particular day, conflicting with a potential extraordinary session of the Assembly.
The official correspondence stated, "Me permito comunicarle, que lamentablemente que no se puede dar trámite a la solicitud de permiso presentado para la sesión extraordinaria de plenario del viernes 28 de marzo del año en curso, dado que según el artículo 1 de las solicitudes de licencia del reglamento de ausencias de los diputados y las diputadas: ‘Para su autorización, la Presidencia tendrá en consideración los permisos otorgados...
de modo que no superen las ausencias de diez diputados o diputadas en Plenario...’"
Ortega expressed indignation among his peers regarding the situation, highlighting concerns that this denial could jeopardize the health and well-being of both Guillén and her unborn child.
In the statement read by Ortega, it was argued that the prioritization of earlier approved leave permits, including international travel, over a medical appointment was unacceptable, stating that the right to healthcare should not be subject to perceived subjective decision-making by the assembly's leadership.
The Costa Rican Constitution underscores in Article 50 the right to a healthy environment and collective well-being, which has been interpreted as a fundamental principle supporting the right to health.
Furthermore, Article 51 asserts that families, particularly expectant mothers, are entitled to special protection by the state.
Guillén's right to medical leave aligns with constitutional provisions that ensure proper healthcare access for workers, especially during pregnancy.
Ortega emphasized that it is imperative for employers to facilitate access to healthcare, especially for pregnant employees, as attendance at prenatal appointments is essential for safeguarding both maternal and fetal health.
Following the outcry from the Frente Amplio legislators regarding the denial of Guillén's permit, she received an email later the same day confirming that her request had been approved.
The email stated, "Con instrucciones del señor Presidente (Rodrigo Arias), se procede con el trámite de Permiso de Plenario para el viernes 28 de marzo de 2025, solicitando mediante oficio."
The incident has raised significant issues of legislative policy concerning women in the workplace, particularly pregnant lawmakers.
The Frente Amplio party hopes that this situation acts as a precedent to ensure that similar incidents do not recur with any other legislator.
