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Ecuador

Monthly Updates

February 2023

Municipal elections and a referendum held on 5 February delivered important wins for the opposition, and unfavourable results for President Guillermo Lasso’s government. Candidates from former president Rafael Correa’s left leaning party (Revolución Ciudadana) were elected as mayors in Ecuador’s two main cities, Quito and Guayaquil. Pursuant to adopted reforms that seek to achieve gender parity by 2025, 46.9 per cent of candidacies for this election were held by women. In Guayaquil, right-wing mayors had governed for 31 years. Analysts consider the left’s gains in the countries as indicative of the diminished popularity of Lasso’s government. They have also characterized the results of the referendum that took place on the same date as a blow to Lasso’s efforts to gain backing for his security policy and the war on drugs.  The referendum included questions on the possibility of extraditing Ecuadorian nationals for transnational organized crime, reducing the number of the legislature’s members among other varied reforms. All possible reforms in the government-backed referendum were rejected by voters.  Participation reached 80.74 per cent (voting is mandatory for most citizens). The elections stood out for the uncharacteristic level of violence; five candidates were killed and at least 12 were targeted by violent attacks.

October 2022

Violence in prisons has left 29 persons deprived of their liberty dead and dozens injured, in only three days. The UN’s Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture has expressed concern over what it deems is a crisis in the penitentiary system, where self-government has fostered an environment prone to multiple human rights violations.  Since 2021, seven mass killings in different prisons have taken place in Ecuador. While the government argues that violence between gangs in prison has been a main contributing factor to this, lack of effective government policy to address this issue has been widely criticized.   A state of emergency decreed in August has been extended in several regions until October. On 1 November, a curfew was established in the Guayas and Esmeralda regions, in response to a new wave of violence linked to the transfer of prisoners.

September 2022

Women’s protests against gender-based violence took place in the aftermath of the femicide of lawyer Maria Belen Bernal, whose police officer husband is currently the main suspect. So far in 2022, 206 women have been victims of femicide in Ecuador.  In the aftermath of such femicide, and because it is believed that the alleged perpetrator fled justice due to negligence  within the police, the Interior Minister was replaced and high-ranking members of the police have been asked to resign.

August 2022

From 14 August President Guillermo Lasso declared a State of Emergency in Guayaquil, due to a wave of violence attributed to organized crime. That day, an explosion killed five people, injuring at least 17 more. The government has condemned this action as a ‘declaration of war’ by gangs and organized crime that have intensified violent activities. Temporary suspension of rights through the State of Emergency would enable authorities to carry out searches and disperse reunions.

Explore past monthly updates

GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
17 888 470
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Guillermo Lasso (since 2021)
Head of government party
CREO (Creating Opportunities Movement)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
38.7%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2021
Head of state
President Guillermo Lasso
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (modified two-round)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
01/05/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
89.01%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
State Party
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
State Party
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
in
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Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Oct 2022
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Oct 2022
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Oct 2022
Nov
Dec
Jan
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Mar 2023
Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Oct 2022
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Oct 2022
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
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