Ecuador

During 2024, UN Women played a key role in supporting the Ecuadorian government to adopt the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP-WPS) to fulfil Resolution 1325.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2023-2024 term, Ecuador committed to drafting the NAP 2024-2029. During 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, with the technical assistance of UN Women, defined a baseline and the main strategic pillars. The Working Group responsible for the NAP led by the Ministry of Foreing Affairs included the following sectors:

Security: Ministries of the Interior, Defense and National Police
Judicial: Judiciary Council, Attorney Office, Justice National Court
Social-Human Rights: Ministries of Women and Human Rights, and Education; Ecuadorian Municipalities Association; National Councils for Equality in Gender, Intergenerational, Disabilities, Mobility, Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities; Ombudsman’s Office

Consultations were also held with first and second level women’s organizations, human and environmental rights defenders, Afro-descendant and Indigenous women, women workers, and local women leaders.
The NAP was approved in November 2024, signed by all participating government institutions and launched in an event with the participation of the Vice minister of International Affairs, the diplomatic corps, national authorities and the Spotlight Initiative Ambassador Cecilia Suarez.
The NAP envisions that, in the medium term, more women will lead community-based processes for conflict prevention and citizen security; be present in decision-making within justice institutions in addressing gender-based violence; the development of community-rooted processes to prevent conflicts, build and maintain peace; strengthen women’s organization as defenders and peacebuilders actively participating in local-national public decision-making to reduce and avoid the impacts of conflict on their lives.
By NAP implementation, it is expected that Ecuador strengthens its overall capacity to ensure both citizen and human security—with human rights and gender focus; to prevent, prepare for and respond to conflicts and their impacts on women; justice institutions will respond without impunity and guarantee the rule of law in cases of violence associated with internal conflicts and organized crime, including mechanisms for conflict resolution, accountability, recognition and rights reparation; the social protection and human rights institutions will generate preventive, responsive and supportive actions to address the risk or impact of violence.
This agenda is aligned with the WPS UN Women strategy, working with partners, including civil society and communities, to address social, cultural and political barriers and protection risks that limit the full participation of women in conflict prevention, peace building and peacekeeping processes.1325 RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN_ MINISTRY OF FOREING AFFAIRS - OneDrive

During the reporting period, UN Women Ecuador played a crucial role in advancing on SDG 5.5 target that aims to ensure women's participation and equal opportunities for leadership in parliament, local governments and executive ministers. After electoral processes that took place in 2023, 43% of seats in parliament are held by women and 19% in mayoral offices. Results show an increase of women participation in these decision-making levels by 7% in parliament and 19% in local governments. Also, the cabinet of President-elect Daniel Noboa has a 47% representation of women.
These results demonstrate UN Women's sustained efforts to promote parity in electoral processes since the constitutional development of 2018, the construction of the Democracy Code and its reforms, the generation of information and evidence on women's political participation and particularly political violence, the strengthening of women's capacities in politics, and working with political organizations; the advocacy with the President of the Republic by gender parity in the composition of the ministerial cabinet. As partners on these efforts, UN Women supported the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE), institutions responsible to regulate and administrate electoral justice; coordinated technical assistance and advocacy with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), institution that led electoral assistance; and UN Women contributed with its strong alliance with women in politics and women’s organizations.
To strengthen women's capacities in politics, UN Women collaborated with organized women from diverse communities. Support extended to developing protocols and studies, like the Political Parity Index, addressing challenges faced by women in the political sphere. Support for the Protocol of Action of Political Organizations against Gender-Based Political Violence against Women, promoted by civil society, showcased proactive capacities and dialogues of electoral authorities, with UN Women's crucial accompaniment.
UN Women monitored cases of political violence against women in elected offices, resulting in significant sanctions. The commitment of the Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE) and UN Women's participation in various events positioned it as a key actor, fostering alliances to combat violence against women.
In terms of coordination, UN Women collaborated with the Gender and Human Rights Working Group of the United Nations System and the Gender Roundtable for International Cooperation (MEGECI) to monitor women's participation in electoral processes, preventing violence. UN Women supported monitoring the 2023 electoral campaigns with Fundación Haciendo Ecuador through a political participation observatory.