Ecuador's fight against transnational crimes erodes human rights

Ecuador now belongs to The most violent countries in the world. While the Crisis is complexAn increase in transnational drug trade has driven the country's descent and uncertainty. Ecuador is located between two of the world's leading cocaine-producing countries and has become a transit hub for drugs for the United States and Europe. The organized crime has become deep anchored In the country's political and legal systems, they weaken democratic government and hinder the efforts to contain the trade in narcotics.

In response to exploding violence, President Daniel Noboa Azín started a militarized approach that undermined human rights protection. In January 2024 he quoted “internal armed conflict” and declared an emergency and used the military against organized crime groups through the “.FénixNational security plan; Provincial states of emergency have been declared and renewed several times since then. During the Constitutional court has repeated rejected The claim of Noboa, “internal armed conflict” as a justification for the declaration of emergency states of the President of the President, has continued unabated. Reports on tens of thousands of people called up In the first half of 2024.

The rise of transnational crime

The emergency room of Noboa in 2024 followed a years of security, in which many Ecuadorians longed for a plan to restore stability and the rule of law. In 2017, many hoped that President Lenín Moreno would be chaired A new era the reform and open political competition. As he proved, these expectations were not able to be able Return To the political institutions and the economy of Ecuador, which is rooted in corruption and authoritarian measures by former President Rafael Correa, or to contain the increasing crime. Moreno's successor, Guillermos Lasso, also fought and until 2023 Ecuador's annual murder rate reached 46.2 per 100,000 citizens – up of 5.8 in 2018.

Lasso's term in office ended with a quick choice that he Called controversy In May 2023 to avoid the survey and activate Article 148 for the first time – a rare constitutional provision mentioned Muertte cruzada This enabled him to dissolve the National Assembly and the rule by decree (with some judicial checks) until the surveys were used in November. The election period was impaired by Violence and criminal interferenceIncluding the murders of the manta of the mayor Agustín Intriago Quijano and the presidential candidate Fernando Villavicen Valencia. In the middle of an increasingly chaotic environment Noboa, a new political gorge with A Hard-line security agendaPresent was chosen.

When Noboa took office at the end of 2023, the prisons of Ecuador had come back in lawlessness and served as centers for organized crime and spawning Weapons and drug trade networks And lawn wars that stretched into the streets and districts of the country. Criminal groups like Los Choneros Pasted in the coastal provinces, promoted by the increasing presence of transnational cartels and illegal armed groups from Mexico, Colombia and the Balkans. A dollar economy made money laundering lucrative, while Ecuadorian saw blackmails, kidnapping, shifting, car bombs and murders out of control.

The escape from January 2024 escapes a large gang leader and violent gang attack-a single in the recording of prisons, bombings and attacks by the media station-wide explanation of Noboa. The iron fau Repressive state of emergency In El Salvador, suspended constitutional rights used the freedom of the association and mobility and gave the government extensive powers to monitor communication, the search of private property, the initial blocks and the citizens without arrest warrants.

The rule of law worsens

Human rights groups have reported shocking allegations from Abuse by security forces Since the first state of emergency as part of the national security plan “Fenix”, including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial murders and forced disappears. Have right monitors described The torture of the prisoners comprises blows, electrical shocks, sexual violence and tear gas abuse as well as deaths in custody. In addition, there were allegations of security forces who kept detained persons in a non -communic way and refused to access legal advice and medical care.

Many of those affected are Afro -Kuadorians, indigenous peoples, young people and people living in poverty. Examples of violations of proper procedures and abuse against these groups are abundant. For example, shortly after the first emergency declaration, indigenous guards from the Kichwa Community in Putumayo were arrested arbitrarily during a security operation and the legal advisor refused. In a case that shocked the country was detained In December by the forces in Guayaquil after a football game. Her corpses were later recovered near a military base, charred and with signs of torture. A report Through the investigative journalism outfit connectas over the exploding number of missing minors under Ecuador's emergency states, disappearing, which concentrated in the provinces of coasts and Highland with large afro and indigenous population groups. While most of the disappearance were associated with the forced recruitment in criminal groups, some of the detections from state agents were involved.

In June, Noboa received even more extensive powers to enforce the procedure. The National Assembly through an accelerated process adopted two new laws: One that grants the President broad powers to explain an “internal armed conflict” and to define his reaction; And another who relaxes that relaxes to gather abuses by state agents and intrusive intelligence. The laws consolidate the president's authority to start militarized proposals that undermine the protection of the constitution and the rule of law.

Restoration of fundamental rights and bourgeois freedoms

While Noboa's approach to combat transnational crime and a shocking increase in violence was intended, it has severely damaged the rule of law in a country in which Democratic institutions– The judiciary, the courts, the public service are already weak and impaired.

A critical step to break back the transnational crime and create peace and security is to improve them Judicial system In this way, it can prevent organized crime more effectively, examine it and pursue criminal law. This requires the protection of the physical security of judges, prosecutors and police investigators. Provision of resources to pursue drug-related and weapon and sexual trade cases; And find the corruption that disabled their critical work. Since Ecuador's security dilema is associated with actors in Colombia, Mexico, the United States and other countries, measures to combat transnational groups should be carried out in coordination with partners in these countries.

In addition, regional and international mechanisms of Ecuadorians should help Civil society And human right -back While they speak against corruption and abuse that are committed by security forces, especially against Afro-Edorians, indigenous communities and adolescents. The organization of the American states (OAS) and the United Nations have taken promising measures to investigate human rights violations associated with the Ecuador emergency states. You should blame the government of Ecuador for the persecution of abuses by security forces, ensure more transparency and organize national laws with constitutional and international human rights standards.

The fight against organized crime is of crucial importance for Ecuador, but cannot undermine democracy. Ecuadorians deserve to enjoy security and security without distributing their fundamental rights.