Ahead of the upcoming session of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva, Amnesty International has raised serious concerns about ongoing enforced disappearances in Ecuador, highlighting that these crimes remain largely unpunished under President Daniel Noboa’s militarized security strategy. The organization submitted a detailed report documenting ten disappearances during five security operations in 2024, emphasizing the continued demand from victims’ families for truth, justice, and reparation.
Recent judicial progress includes a landmark December 2025 ruling in which eleven military officers were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for the enforced disappearance of four Afro-descendant teenagers from Guayaquil. Additional sentences and reparations were issued, though appeals by some of the convicted officers are pending, and a Constitutional Court ruling that could strengthen comprehensive reparations remains unresolved. Amnesty International stresses that full cooperation from the armed forces and thorough investigations of all allegations are critical for meaningful justice.
Efforts to strengthen investigations have been modestly improved with the appointment of an additional prosecutor to the specialized unit investigating the illegitimate use of force, though this remains insufficient given the caseload and geographic concentration of cases, particularly in coastal regions where most disappearances occur. The unit still faces significant resource constraints, limiting its ability to conduct prompt and thorough inquiries.
Human rights concerns persist, with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights granting precautionary measures in favor of disappeared persons and their families, who continue to face harassment and intimidation. Incidents reported in early 2026, including alleged military intrusion into the homes of relatives of disappeared individuals, highlight ongoing risks and the lack of institutional accountability. Recent announcements of joint security operations involving the Ecuadorian armed forces and international partners have raised further concerns due to historical human rights abuses under the Phoenix Plan.
Amnesty International has called on Ecuadorian authorities to conduct impartial investigations, protect victims’ families, ensure armed forces’ cooperation, reverse militarized security approaches, and comply with international human rights obligations. The organization also urges foreign partners involved in law enforcement operations to uphold accountability and respect for human rights in their support to Ecuador.
