IACHR urges Ecuador to take effective action to end ongoing prison violence

January 14, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) once again expresses its grave concern over the severe, ongoing violence in Ecuador's prison system and calls on authorities to take urgent, effective measures to safeguard the rights to life and personal integrity of all people in its custody. States must conduct thorough investigations into all incidents, identify and sanction those responsible, and prevent their recurrence. 

Between January 1, 2020, and December 4, 2024, the IACHR has recorded the deaths of at least 591 people deprived of their freedom due to prison violence, including 37 in 2024. This violence has also left hundreds injured, including prison staff. Although various measures taken by the State have led to a decline in the number of incidents and fatalities compared to 2021 (316 deaths) and 2022 (122 deaths), the IACHR is deeply concerned by the fact that this year's deaths occurred in a context of repeated clashes that it has been monitoring closely.

Recent incidents occurred at the Guayas No. 1 Prison—commonly known as "Penitenciaria del Litoral"—on December 3, 2024, when three grenades exploded in the dining hall, injuring at least nine detainees, a guard, and a soldier. Subsequent clashes left one person dead and seven more injured, according to publicly available information. Before this, in November 2024, the IACHR had condemned the deaths of at least 15 people and injuries to 14 others at the same facility.

The causes underlying prison violence in Ecuador include lack of state control of facilities, corruption, security staff shortages, and the prevalence of self-governance systems. The specific prisons that have experienced outbreaks of violence are under the control of organized crime groups, as noted by the IACHR in a 2022 report entitled "People Deprived of Their Freedom in Ecuador."

The IACHR warns that these acts of violence are not isolated but instead reflect broader challenges faced by the Ecuadorian State in guaranteeing citizen security in response to the escalating violence caused by organized crime in the country. The IACHR acknowledges Decree No. 493, issued on January 2, 2025, declaring a 60-day state of emergency in several provinces, including Guayas and its detention centers. The decree seeks to address rising violence and the entrenched presence of organized armed groups.

The IACHR has consistently expressed concern over threats to public security, including in a press release of January 17, 2024. In response, it emphasizes the urgent need for security policies that are grounded in a human rights approach.

In this context, the IACHR notes that States must take immediate measures to protect the lives and integrity of all people in their custody, in accordance with the Principles and Best Practices on the Protection of the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas.

It also reminds the State of Ecuador of its obligation to prevent violence in detention centers and reassert control over organized crime. It must also ensure that serious, prompt, impartial ex officio investigations are conducted into all acts of violence in its prisons and that those responsible for such violence are identified and held accountable. 

Lastly, the IACHR reiterates that it will continue to monitor the situation of people deprived of their freedom in Ecuador through its various mechanisms. It stands ready to provide technical cooperation to help the State in its efforts to address the severe prison crisis in the country and implement public policies that align with the recommendations outlined in its report "People Deprived of Their Freedom in Ecuador."

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 012/25

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