“During the year 2023, Ecuador has experienced an alarming escalation of violence. Fundamedios has recorded 265 attacks this year, which have affected 343 journalists, media outlets, candidates, civil society organizations and activists. Attacks perpetrated by organized crime increased 870% compared to 2020, and 240% compared to 2022. Along these lines, threats represented 15% of total […]
"At least nine journalists have left Ecuador since April due to death threats from organized crime and at least six remain in exile so far, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) recalled in a preliminary report. Three other journalists were relocated within the country after being intimidated, according to the Andean Foundation for the Observation […]
"A delegation of Ecuadorian journalists appeared this Nov. 6 at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to expose the threats faced by the profession in a growing context of violence. César Ricaurte, executive director of Fundamedios, said that since 2007 the Ecuadorian press has suffered attacks by the political power 'and […]
“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presented Case 12.919 regarding Ecuador before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (I/A Court) on July 9, 2023. It concerns the death of photojournalist Julio García Romero during a demonstration in 2005 and the lack of a diligent and effective investigation of what happened. [...] In its Merits […]
“They wear bulletproof vests and helmets to practice journalism, although they are not in Ukraine or the Gaza Strip. They cover news from Ecuador, where violence linked to drug trafficking transformed their job into a high-risk profession. Killings between prisoners, murders in the streets, shootings, car bombs, political crimes. And the cartel war for drug […]
"Death threats against journalists doubled in Ecuador, this amid the growing wave of violence that is sweeping this Latin American country. According to organizations that defend freedom of the press, death threats doubled compared to 2021 and 2022, when there were between eight and seven. For the year 2023, exactly between January and August, there […]
"A group of Ecuadorian communicators presented on Thursday [Sept. 7] a Commission for the Protection of Journalists (MAPP, by its Spanish acronym), through mechanisms and concrete actions in the face of threats against the life or freedom of reporters. This coordinating forum among civil society actors, press media and communication workers seeks to create networks […]
"The political movement Partido Social Cristiano (PSC) posted a threatening text, in which it criticized and belittled a cartoon by Xavier Bonilla (aka Bonil), titled 'El repartidor [the delivery man].' The cartoon refers to the former assemblyman of the party, Pablo Muentes, and the multiple lawsuits he has filed for allegedly affecting his honor. The […]
"The journalistic team of the digital media outlet La Posta, which reported the so-called Gran Padrino [Great Godfather] case, will request precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for the protection of its integrity. In a program from digital media outlet La Posta, broadcast on Aug. 29, 2023, their representatives, Andersson Boscán […]
"Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso signed on Wednesday [Aug. 23] a regulation to apply a communication law that includes protection mechanisms for the press, threatened by organized crime, he said, and to honor murdered candidate and journalist Fernando Villavicencio. When he presented the regulation he ratified the commitment to strengthen freedom of expression, 'even more so […]
"The Ombudsman's Office of Ecuador has urged the government to reinforce the protection of journalists during the electoral process that will conclude next Oct. 15 with a run-off between presidential candidates Luisa González and Daniel Noboa. The Ombudsman's Office, in a communiqué released this Monday [Aug. 21] which responds to a summary of the national […]
"Fernando Villavicencio has been murdered. The presidential candidate for the Construye movement and former Assemblyman was the victim of a hired assassination on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 9, 2023, while participating in a political rally in the coliseum, located at the intersection of Gaspar de Villaroel and Amazonas avenues, north center of Quito. When he was […]