On the eve of President Daniel Noboa’s first year in office, the evidence suggests that human rights have suffered under the current administration, Amnesty International said today in a briefing detailing its concerns, ahead of the UN Human Rights Committee’s review of Ecuador, which begins today in Geneva.
Are current security policies in Ecuador violating human rights standards?
- President Noboa declared a state of emergency due to rising violence.
- Exceptional powers restrict human rights, becoming the new norm.
- Allegations of human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, have been reported.
What actions have been taken by the government?
- The armed forces assumed control of prisons nationwide.
- Military operations led to thousands of arrests with concerns of due process violations.
- Human rights defenders have faced stigmatization and challenges.
How have prison conditions deteriorated?
- Over 100 complaints of torture and ill-treatment in prisons have been reported.
- Lack of access to basic services for detainees.
- Increased alerts about treatment of prisoners by the Ombudsman’s Office.
It is crucial that Ecuador aligns its security policies with international human rights laws and standards. The international community, including the United States, must demand transparency and accountability from Ecuadorian authorities to ensure the protection of human rights.
Source: www.amnesty.org