Ecuador

Norwegian recommendations in UPR on Ecuador 21 May

Norway thanks the delegation of Ecuador for the presentation of the national report, and appreciates the inclusive process in its elaboration.

Norway recognizes the commitment by Ecuador to strengthen its national system for the protection of human rights. We commend you on progress with regards to ensuring social and economic rights for marginalized groups and for reducing overall levels of poverty. Norway also recognizes the important steps taken to promote gender equality and to combat violence against women.

The constitution grants the indigenous population the right to consultation. Norway recommends that Ecuador institutionalizes the right to consultation and that civil society and indigenous groups are involved in the elaboration of a functioning consultation mechanism in line with Ecuador’s commitments under ILO-Convention 169. This should take place through an open and transparent consultation process.

With regards to freedom of expression Norway recommends that defamation is decriminalized and that necessary amendments in this regard are made to the criminal code in line with Inter-American and International standards. 

Finally, Norway recommends that national and international human rights organisations are allowed the space to undertake their non-violent advocacy, campaigning, reporting and investigative work and that the Government of Ecuador engage constructively with human rights defenders in seeking solutions to address Ecuador’s human rights challenges.

Norway’s Advance Questions for Ecuador

1. Norway would kindly ask Ecuador to elaborate on its efforts for safeguarding the rights of indigenous peoples, especially in view of its commitments with regards to ILO-Convention 169 and consultations of indigenous peoples, and in the light of ongoing or future natural resource extraction projects.
2. Libel and defamation is part of the Criminal Code in Ecuador. How does Ecuador ensure that these clauses and future policy and law related to the media are in line with international and Inter-American standards for freedom of expression?
3. In accordance with recommendations made in the first UPR of Ecuador, the country report specifies that measures have been taken to reduce violence against women and children in the private sphere. How does the authorities evaluate the results of its action plan against such violence and other initiatives taken in this area? 
4. The national report of Ecuador specifies that NGOs have been involved in the process of writing the report. We kindly request more information with regards to the inclusion of NGOs in the assessment and report writing process.