Quito, September 10, 2026. Following an observation mission conducted in March 2026, a coalition of seven international organizations has released a joint report detailing the rapid deterioration of human rights and environmental defense in Ecuador. The signatories include the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), Front Line Defenders, Civicus Global Alliance, 11.11.11, the Association of Lawyers, Judges and Prosecutors for Human Rights of Latin America and the Caribbean (AJUFIDH), and the International Peace Brigades (PBI). The document, titled “Attacks and Criminalization against Civil Society in a Context of Militarization and Extractivism,” is available exclusively in Spanish.
Militarization and State of Exception
The report highlights that since March 2024, the Ecuadorian government has frequently invoked states of exception and declared internal armed conflict, significantly expanding the role of the armed forces in public security. These measures have normalized exceptional protocols without reducing citizen insecurity. Instead, violent death rates have reached historical records, with severe human rights violations reported in militarized zones. The impact has been disproportionately felt by indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, and peasant populations.
Soraya Gutierrez, Secretary General of FIDH, stated that Ecuador stands at a crossroads: it must either strengthen the rule of law or deepen its crisis. She emphasized that exceptional measures cannot become the new norm and that socio-environmental conflicts cannot be resolved through the militarization of territories. Security policies must address the multidimensional causes of violence and adhere to international law.
Erosion of Judicial Independence and Civil Space
The coalition observed attacks on the Constitutional Court, challenges to judicial independence, delays in justice administration, and insufficient responses from the Ombudsman regarding the criminalization and freezing of assets of human rights defenders. Cesar Sivo, President of AJUFIDH, asserted that judicial independence is non-negotiable, warning that without an autonomous power, the rule of law vanishes and justice becomes a mirage.
Since 2025, the report identifies patterns of violent repression against peaceful protests led by indigenous movements. This includes the criminalization, stigmatization, and persecutory use of administrative, financial, and legal measures against civil society organizations. Eduardo Marenco of Civicus noted a concerning acceleration in the deterioration of civic space, citing the violent repression of the 2025 general strike, increased threats against journalists, and sanctions against NGOs.
Extractivism and Territorial Conflicts
The document links these security measures to extractive industries, including mining, oil, agro-industry, fisheries, and hydroelectricity. It argues that extractivism is driven by normative and institutional decisions favoring economic growth and investment stability, often at the expense of community governance and democratic decisions. Carla Mocoso of 11.11.11 highlighted that the core issue is determining who decides the future of territories and who bears the social and environmental costs of conflicts framed as matters of national interest or strategic security.
Álvaro Gómez del Valle of Front Line Defenders stressed that defending human rights and nature is not a crime under the Ecuadorian Constitution. He called for an immediate end to criminalization and attacks, urging the state to protect defenders rather than persecute them. The organizations urge the Ecuadorian state to adopt effective measures to prevent violations and protect those defending their communities’ rights.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
