inseminations, the couple applied for loans and mortgages; they mortgaged their home and sold some of their belongings. 118 However, the artificial inseminations were unsuccessful. 119 87. In February 2000, their doctor informed the couple that their last alternative to treat their infertility would be to undergo IVF. One month later, on March 15, 2000, the Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica delivered the judgment that banned this practice in the country. 120 The couple did not have the financial resources to travel abroad to undergo the treatment. 121 88. The couple divorced on March 10, 2001, and one of the reasons was the impossibility of having biological children. 122 F.2) Ileana Henchoz and Miguel Yamuni 89. Miguel Antonio Yamuni Zeledón and Ileana Henchoz Bolaños were married on February 22, 1992. 123 Their family unit included a daughter from Ms. Henchoz’s first marriage. 124 90. In 1994 they decided to have children. Starting in 1994 the couple underwent 16 artificial insemination treatments, which were unsuccessful. 125 In 1999, after undergoing three more artificial inseminations with another doctor, as well as other tests, they received the diagnosis that the only way they could have children was by IVF. 126 To this end, the 118 In this regard, Ms. Artavia indicated that “in order to meet the expenses, [her] former husband had to take out loans and mortgages which he has still not been able to pay off completely.” Brief of Ms. Artavia and Ms. Mejías of December 19, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume I, folio 4075). Furthermore, Mr. Mejías declared that he “had already mortgaged [his] house, had spent all [his] savings so that [they] could undergo in vitro fertilization in Costa Rica.” Statement by Miguel Mejías Carballo at the public hearing held in this case. 119 Brief of Ms. Artavia and Mr. Mejías of December 19, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume I, folio 4075). Similarly, Mr. Mejías indicated that they had undergone all the inseminations, but “they were unsuccessful because there was a problem with [his wife’s] uterus.” Statement by Miguel Mejías Carballo at the public hearing held in this case. 120 Mr. Mejías stated that, when his wife was operated on to resolve the problem she had with her uterus, and when “she was well enough to undergo the technique of in vitro fertilization, and [they] were happy and content, that was when it was banned and, to date, they have been unable to.” Statement by Miguel Mejías Carballo at the public hearing held in this case. 121 On this point, Ms. Artavia indicated that, since the time the practice of IVF was banned, they had become desperate and frustrated “owing to the impossibility of going abroad to undergo […] this technique because of the lack of funds.” Brief of Ms. Artavia and Mr. Mejías of December 19, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume I, folio 4076). Similarly, statement by Miguel Mejías Carballo during the public hearing held in this case. 122 Brief of Ms. Artavia and Mr. Mejías of December 19, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume I, folio 4077) and Divorce certificate of March 10, 2011 (file of the State’s annexes, volume VIII, folios 10269 to 10285). 123 Cf. Certification of the Civil Registry of December 6, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume V, annex XXIX, folio 5902). 124 Statement by Ileana Henchoz Bolaños at the public hearing in this case. 125 In this regard, Ms. Henchoz Bolaños indicated that “a doctor recommended [that they] undergo artificial insemination; [they] underwent approximately 15 or 16 artificial inseminations, but saw no results, which was very difficult because this went on for a long time.” Statement by Ms. Ileana Henchoz Bolaños at the public hearing held in the instant case. 126 Affidavit of Ileana Henchoz Bolaños of December 13, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume V, annex XXIX, folio 5885) and Affidavit of Miguel Antonio Yamuni Zeledón of December 13, 2011 (file of annexes to the pleadings and motions brief, volume V, annex XXIX, folio 5881).