GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed deep concern over credible reports of a rapid deterioration of civic space affecting Indigenous Peoples and human rights defenders in Ecuador.
“Indigenous Peoples are essential to Ecuador’s stability and economic future. Authorities must urgently ensure accountability for any excessive use of force and acts of persecution, and create conditions for inclusive dialogue,” the experts said.
The allegations include the excessive and sometimes lethal use of force in the context of protests, with protesters and leaders being persecuted, arbitrarily detained and accused of terrorism, the experts said. Communities have reportedly been militarized and the bank accounts of indigenous and civil society organizations have been frozen. The reports also suggest failures in due process, including a lack of legal defense and interpretation for indigenous detainees.
“Civil society, human rights defenders, and indigenous leadership, including women leaders, must be able to act free from persecution, criminalization and reprisals,” they said.
The experts are also concerned about information indicating that extractive projects are advancing on Indigenous Peoples’ territories without their free, prior and informed consent. “Any such initiative must comply with international standards,” they said.
“Full respect for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a valuable tool for fostering reconciliation and collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and States,” they added.
The experts urged Ecuador to respect international standards on the rights to liberty and security of person, and the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression. They called for prompt, impartial and independent investigations into the alleged violations.
“We hope to have a dialogue with the Government on the problems affecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Ecuador – a country that was once considered a reference in the region in terms of Indigenous Peoples’ rights,” they said.
Experts have been in contact with the Government of Ecuador about these concerns.
* The experts
- Albert K. Barume, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders
Special rapporteurs/independent experts/working groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Collectively, these experts are referred to as Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. Although the UN Human Rights Office acts as the secretariat of the Special Procedures, the experts act in their individual capacity and are independent of any government or organization, including OHCHR and the United Nations. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.
Country-specific observations and recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms, including special procedures, treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found in the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/es/.
UN Human Rights, country page – Ecuador
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