Amnesty International issued a brief on Monday expressing its concerns regarding human rights in Ecuador, coinciding with the eve of President Daniel Noboa’s first year in office and the commencement of the UN Human Rights Committee’s review of the country in Geneva.
The human rights organization reports that President Noboa has implemented a stringent security policy, designating drug-trafficking organizations as “terrorists” and declaring an “internal armed conflict.” His administration has frequently renewed states of emergency under the contentious “Plan Fenix, ” resulting in severe human rights violations, including thousands of arrests without due process, instances of torture and mistreatment in prisons, and allegations of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances by armed forces during security operations.
Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas director, stated :
Exceptional powers restricting human rights that were intended as temporary have become the new norm in Ecuador, and the negative impact has become clear. People in Ecuador deserve to live in safety without having to give up their human rights. The international community has a key role in demanding transparency and accountability of Ecuadorian authorities, and the time to do so is now.
From January to June 2024 police and military forces conducted over 120,000 joint operations under “Plan Fenix,” resulting in 34,945 arrests. President Noboa referred to the arrested individuals as “presumed criminals,” undermining the principle of presumption of innocence. In response to the heightened military presence, the Public Defender’s Office deployed additional personnel to affected provinces.
Reports of human rights violations include 12 potential extrajudicial executions, 4 enforced disappearances, and 95 cases of torture documented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office from January to July 2024, a significant increase from just 5 extrajudicial executions in 2023. Amnesty International also highlighted the case of Carlos Javier Vega Ipanaque, a 19-year-old who was shot by soldiers in Guayaquil on February 2, 2024, while unarmed and posing no threat. Additionally, two young men were reportedly subjected to enforced disappearance by armed forces during a military operation in Los Rios on August 26, 2024.
During its June 2024 visits to Quito and Guayaquil, Amnesty International further observed a pattern of stigmatization against human rights defenders by high-level authorities, including President Noboa, who referred to them as “antipatriotic.” Human rights organizations have faced increasing challenges in accessing public information and engaging with government officials.
Additionally, the organization has expressed alarm over the lack of access to essential services for detainees, including food, water, and medical care, which the state is obliged to provide. Family visits were suspended but were reinstated in July 2024 following pressure from international organizations, including the UN Committee on Torture. Additionally, the involvement of armed forces has not ensured the safety of prison officials, as media reports indicate that three prison directors, including the head of Litoral prison in Guayas, the country’s largest facility, were killed this year.
Amnesty International has called on Ecuador to align its security policies with international human rights laws and standards. The organization highlighted the crucial role of the international community, particularly the UN Human Rights Committee, which will assess Ecuador’s human rights record on October 28 and 29, providing recommendations to the government.
