A FLOWER for the Ladies: Gladys Montenegro of the folkloric dance group Mujeres de Mi Tierra held up a single blossom during a performance at the National Culture Center (CENAC). Her group was among those that performed in honor of International Women's Day.

The work of Costa Rican film producers has been under a spotlight this week during the 15 th Exposition of Costa Rican Film and Video, which continues through Sunday.

“The Barber of Seville ”
Opera buffa (comedic opera) by Gioacchino Rossini, performed by singers from Central America, Bulgaria and Italy, today and tomorrow, 8 p.m., Melico Salazar Theater, San José. Info: 207-2025, www.mundoticket.com.

I Grand Prix of Canine Ability
Judges certified by the U.S. Dog Agility Association, today and tomorrow, 9 a.m., Pet's Paradise, El Roble, Heredia, north of San José. Info: 381-8285.

Transitarte 2007
Outdoor fair with art exhibits, concerts, poetry, today and tomorrow, 9 a.m-9 p.m., Morazán Park, Parque España and Jardín de Paz, San José.

Flying Borracho Brothers
Fast fingers, fabulous songs, 8 p.m., Tex Mex, Santa Ana, west of San José, free admission. Info: 282-6342.

Tamarindo Community Picnic
Sponsored by Promejoras de Tamarindo Association, meet and greet neighbors, food available, bring own beverage, adults ¢3,000, kids under 12 ¢1,000, 3 p.m. to sunset. Info: 653-0270, 810-1493.

Xibalba Jam
Open-stage rock & blues jam featuring "The Known Associates,” 4 p.m., Motor Psychos Bar & Grill, Santa Ana, west of San José, 1.8 km west of the Red Cross. Info: 203-8361.

By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

As the words “ Feliz Día ” were spoken by those wearing red to commemorate International Women's Day yesterday, the Costa Rican government seized the occasion to unveil its new National Policy for Gender Equality (PIEG), which outlines six lofty goals to be achieved within 10 years.

The National Institute for Women (INAMU) used these goals to develop a five-year action plan with objectives including making the rearing of children a social responsibility, improving the quality of health and education for women and protecting them from violence.

In order to break the cycle of poverty in which too many women find themselves, the rearing of children must be considered a social responsibility rather than a burden women must bear alone, said INAMU president Janet Carrillo during an event held yesterday at the National Culture Center (CENAC) in San José attended by other prominent women officials including Vice-President Laura Chinchilla.

“Advances in the economic rights of women not only affect their quality of life, but also the quality of life of their families,” Carrillo said. “That means its not just women who win (when their economic rights are guaranteed) -- the families of this country win and this country wins.”

To develop the national plan, INAMU consulted government authorities, social organizations and municipal INAMU offices, as well as officials from the health and education sectors to gauge women's equality.

Using these results, the institution spelled out the six objectives to be achieved within five years, and “now our job and challenge is to make these commitments defined on paper into concrete realities,” Carrillo said.

By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff | kstanley@ticotimes.net

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) made domestic employees' lives a little easier this week with a ruling that gives them more time off and abolishes sections of the Labor Code that differentiate such workers from those in other fields.

The ruling upholds their maximum workday of 12 hours, but states that employers cannot demand additional hours, and that the hours must be continual – not distributed over a 15-hour period as the Labor Law states, according to a statement released late Wednesday by the Judicial Branch.

Ruling on a suit filed by Rosa María Acosta, of the Domestic Workers' Association, the justices found sections of the Labor Law allowing employers to extend domestic workers' hours from 12 to 16, with additional pay, unconstitutional, as well as the non-continual workday for domestic workers. The statement said these sections of the law violate both the Constitution and the American Convention on Human Rights, and that “there is no reasonable, objective differentiating element that justifies situating domestic service under an exceptional regimen with longer workdays than other workers and shorter rest periods.”

The daily La Nación also reported yesterday that the Judicial Branch Press Office had indicated the ruling that gives domestic employees one full day off per week, instead of the half-day they now receive, and national holidays. Oddly, Judicial Branch spokesman Federico Venegas told The Tico Times that information will not be available until the justices' full sentence is published.

The work of Costa Rican film producers has been under a spotlight this week during the 15 th Exposition of Costa Rican Film and Video, which continues through Sunday.

The festival, which features 40 films, is the part of the “cycle of knowledge” among Costa Rican cinematographers that helps them work toward better “quality, maturity and quality of formats,” said Mercedes Ramírez, director of Centro de Cine in San José, where the festival is being held.

A total of 126 works were entered in the categories of fiction, documentary, video-clip, animation, publicity spot, environmental and educational film. The winners will be selected by a board of international experts including Clara Ballesteros, the first director of the Spanish Cultural Center in Costa Rica, and Brazilian documentary maker Jaime Lerner.

Screenings are planned at Centro de Cine in San José today and Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by the awards. Those who'd like more information can call 223-2127 or 223-0610.