• Human Rights in Ecuador

    Corruption, inefficiency, and political influence have plagued the Ecuadorian judiciary for many years. In a referendum held in 2011, President Rafael Correa obtained a popular mandate for constitutional reforms that could significantly increase government powers to constrain media and influence the appointment and dismissal of judges.

    Ecuador’s laws restrict freedom of expression, and government officials, including Correa, use these laws against his critics. Those involved in protests marred by violence may be prosecuted on inflated and inappropriate ‘terrorism’ charges.

    Impunity for police abuses is widespread and perpetrators of murders often attributed to a “settling of accounts” between criminal gangs are rarely prosecuted and convicted. 

    2012 World Report Chapter

  • Emilio Palacio, a journalist for the Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo, was sentenced to three years in prison for criminal defamation of Rafael Correa's government on July 20, 2011.

    © 2010 Reuters
    Ecuador: A Blow to Free Speech
    The conviction of President Rafael Correa’s critics for criminal defamation violates Ecuador’s international human rights obligations and should be overturned on appeal. Ecuador should abolish the defamation provisions in its criminal code.
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Ecuador

  • Ecuador: Official Misrepresents Human Rights Watch Position
    Mar 6, 2012
    An interview with Ecuador’s communications minister, Fernando Alvarado, in the March 4, 2012 edition of the official newspaper El Ciudadano flagrantly distorted what happened during a recent meeting he had in Washington, DC, with Human Rights Watch.
  • Letter to Peruvian Government on Involuntary Detention of People with Drug Dependence
    Feb 23, 2012
    Human Rights Watch believes that provisions in Peruvian law that permit involuntary detention for treatment of people who suffer from addiction threaten fundamental human rights protections against arbitrary detention and ill-treatment and for the right to health and are contrary to sound public health policy.
  • Universal Periodic Review of Ecuador
    Nov 21, 2011
    In a referendum held in May 2011, President Rafael Correa obtained a popular mandate to reform the Ecuadorian justice system, a recommendation accepted by Ecuador during the previous UPR cycle. However, the language of the approved reforms could significantly increase the government’s powers to influence the appointment and dismissal of judges.Other serious concerns not addressed by the UPR recommendations of 2008 include the fact that government authorities have undermined free expression by using criminal defamation laws, by arbitrarily forcing TV and radio stations to air presidential speeches, and by failing to adopt regulations to grant official advertisement.
  • Ecuador: Decriminalize Defamation
    Nov 14, 2011
    Ecuador should repeal insult laws (desacato) and all norms that criminalize defamation of public officials and institutions
  • Ecuador: A Blow to Free Speech
    Jul 21, 2011
    The conviction of President Rafael Correa’s critics for criminal defamation violates Ecuador’s international human rights obligations and should be overturned on appeal. Ecuador should abolish the defamation provisions in its criminal code.
  • Ecuador: Don’t Prosecute President’s Critics
    Mar 31, 2011
    President Rafael Correa’s efforts to prosecute his critics for defamation under criminal law is a serious blow to free expression in Ecuador. Ecuador should repeal the defamation provisions in its criminal code.
  • Ecuador: Drop Plan to Control Civil Society
    Dec 17, 2010
    President Rafael Correa should drop a proposed decree that would unjustifiably impose government control over Ecuador’s nongovernmental organizations, Human Rights Watch said today. The powers it would grant would undermine the groups’ independence and compromise their role as a civil society check on government.
  • Ecuador: Letter to President of the National Assembly, Fernando Cordero Cueva
    Aug 9, 2010
  • Ecuador: Modify Proposed Communications Law
    Aug 9, 2010
    Ecuador should amend provisions of the proposed Communications Law to ensure that it meets its obligations to protect and promote free speech.
  • Ecuador: Amend Draft Communications Law
    Dec 15, 2009
    The Ecuadorian National Assembly should amend proposed legislation to regulate communications. The current draft includes provisions that could restrict free expression instead of safeguarding it.
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