In a press release, Türk encouraged the government to carry out a comprehensive reform of the criminal justice system, including prisons, which are often the scene of riots such as the one this week that left 31 dead at the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil. In addition, the official urged the Ecuadorian Executive to apply the policy of social rehabilitation of prisoners, issued in 2022, and developed with the technical support of the United Nations Human Rights Office.

He emphasized that the authorities have the duty to protect the lives of people, including those in state custody; so far, almost 500 inmates have died in prison riots in the last two years, according to data from human rights organizations.

Türk pointed out that emergency measures, including the use of the Armed Forces in public security tasks, can be applied, but must be limited in time and exceptional, although President Guillermo Lasso has implemented them on more than 10 occasions.

Ecuador has experienced in recent days an escalation in its insecurity crisis with prison riots, assassinations of politicians, threats to journalists, and attacks on government buildings, public transportation and private vehicles.

The commissioner also referred to the violent clashes between indigenous and peasant communities, on the one hand, and authorities and mining companies, on the other, following the executive decree which allows mining operations to begin without prior, free and informed consultation with the communities.

According to Türk, this represents a worrying step backwards in the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, who should be heard and not repressed, as occurred recently in Las Naves, Bolívar province, and in Sigchos, Cotopaxi.

mh/ybc/avr