Ecuador Since Tuesday, it has a Ministry of Women and Human Rights and a Single Registry of Violence (RUV), a tool that will gather information from nine State institutions to deal with cases of violence in a coordinated manner and prevent femicides.
The President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, signed the decree that creates the Ministry of Women and Human Rights during the launching ceremony of the RUV, in whose elaboration the Government has participated together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Spotlight Initiative, of the European Union (EU) and the UN.
The Ministry of women had already been anticipated in September by Lasso after the murder of María Belén Bernalwhose case has become emblematic of violence against women in Ecuador, when she was allegedly murdered within the Police school by her husband, an agent who is on the run.
This new cabinet portfolio from Lasso It will work from the current Secretariat of Human Rights and will lead the RUVin which the ministries of the Interior, Education, Health and Economic and Social Inclusion also participate, in addition to the National Police, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Council of the Judiciary and the integrated emergency service ECU 911.
The RUV will serve as a point of convergence of data from these nine institutions and as an information system for victims of violence to prevent it and avoid their re-victimization, as well as a statistical base to feed the femicide early warning system and the coordination of protection and repair services.
“A HISTORIC DAY”
“This is a historic day for the country. Today we are paying a historical debt from previous governments with our girls and women”, affirmed Lasso during the act held in Quito.
The president pointed out that “The moment that Ecuador is experiencing demands changes in the models and structures, today women can demand their rights, take advantage of education, employment, credit and entrepreneurship opportunities, and thus contribute more strongly to the growth of the economy”.
“If we want to take advantage of that potential, we must eliminate this problem that does not distinguish between social classes, religion or skin color.”, he added before announcing that the shelters will also form part of the national system for the prevention of violence against women.
A “UTOPIA FOR MANY YEARS”
In turn, the current Secretary of Human Rights of the Government, Paola Floreswho will go on to occupy the position of Minister for Women and Human Rights, acknowledged that this portfolio seemed like a utopia for many years.
“What seemed impossible a short time ago is now a reality thanks to political will, a commitment to human rights”, he indicated.
Flores asserted that the RUV is “a unique tool at the Latin American level, which in addition to avoiding re-victimization will allow us to propose and generate public policies, especially in those spaces that have been historically marginalized”.
LAW DEVELOPMENT
For her part, the resident representative of the UNDP in Ecuador, Matilde Mordtrecalled that the RUV is part of the Comprehensive Organic Law for the Prevention and Eradication of Gender Violence against Women that UNDP helps the State to implement.
“Undoubtedly, violence against women represents a formidable obstacle to achieving the sustainable development goals, since it not only undermines and nullifies the full enjoyment of women’s rights, but also seriously deteriorates the conditions necessary for human development.Mordt commented.
“Eradicate violence against women is a collective challenge. We must promote structural transformations of sociocultural imaginaries and patterns. We can normalize this type of behavior and help women to fully exercise their rights, and prevent violence from continuing to interrupt their life projects.”, he added.
TRAGIC YEAR IN VIOLENT DEATHS
Also, the EU ambassador to Ecuador, Charles-Michel GeurtsIt showed itself “very proud” to join forces globally with the United Nations through the Spotlight Initiative and that in Ecuador this has crystallized in the RUV.
“However, our efforts do not count if we do not reach the youth, it is the youth that is the factor for changing mentality. We need to invest in educationGeurts noted.
The 2022 records are the worst year for violent deaths of women since the crime of femicide was criminalized in 2014. hUntil November 15, there were 272 femicides, according to data from Fundación Aldea and the Spotlight Initiative. According to the Council of the Judiciary, there are 341 violent deaths, but only 70 considered femicides.
Source: Elcomercio
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