Outcome ECU_D_2.1

In 2026, the State improves public management and increases the protection and guarantee of rights, gender equality and social cohesion, while reducing threats to human security and promoting the eradication of all forms of violence. (UNSDCF Outcome 4)

In 2023, significant achievements were made on several fronts. In the political sphere, during the electoral processes, the parity rule was implemented, resulting in a 19% increase in the presence of women in mayoral offices and 7% in Parliament, totaling 43%. In addition, the cabinet of President-elect Daniel Noboa has a 47% representation of women. UN Women's outstanding contribution was evident in 2023, contributing with the Political Parity Index and presenting key proposals that strengthened women's political participation. In the area of Women, Peace and Security, progress was made in the construction of the National Action Plan for Resolution 1325, with institutional diagnoses and analysis for Ecuador's Peace and Security Agenda. The leadership of UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, set the tone for the development of the plan. In 2023, supported by the UN Women Regional Office, trainings were conducted with an international expert, in which key actors such as the Ministry of the Interior, National Police, Armed Forces, Ministry of Women, Prosecutor's Office and Judicial Council participated. In the prevention and eradication of violence against women, progress was made in sports and universities. The Ministry of Sports approved and implemented the Protocol for action in cases of gender violence in the Ecuadorian sports system. Club Deportivo Aucas also adopted a code of ethics that incorporates the Protocol for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence. Likewise, Cuenca State University approved a comprehensive protocol for prevention and action in cases of harassment, discrimination and violence based on gender, gender identity and sexual orientation. UN Women provided technical assistance for the development of all these instruments. 29 cities, including Quito, Ibarra, and Guayas, have endorsed the Quito Declaration in the battle against violence targeting women and girls. The Safe Cities Program achieved alliance consolidation at the local level with the successful Sixth Global Forum and Fourth World Meeting of Mayors. UN Women played a significant role in gathering data on technical violence and sexual harassment in human mobility, enabling the development of effective strategies. Tools were devised in the field of public administration to tackle the issues of sexual harassment and violence, encompassing both physical and online environments. Furthermore, four diagnoses were conducted on instances of sexual harassment encountered by women in the context of human migration. Additionally, a methodological guide was developed, outlining strategies to foster safe cities, with a particular focus on individuals in situations of human mobility. New scenarios and intervention strategies were developed to address sexual harassment in public spaces, including interventions in public transportation, the Quito subway, local politics, the cyber realm and exploration of new areas such as safe tourism for women, among others.

In 2026, the State improves public management and increases the protection and guarantee of rights, gender equality and social cohesion, while reducing threats to human security and promoting the eradication of all forms of violence. (UNSDCF Outcome 4)

In 2024, significant progress was made towards strengthening public management for the protection and guarantee of rights, gender equality, and social cohesion. UN Women implemented three key initiatives to promote women's political participation and prevent gender-based political violence. In collaboration with the Electoral Dispute Tribunal, 783 people across six provinces were trained on political violence, and an online course with modules on gender equality, international standards, and Ecuadorian legislation was created, aiming to reach 1,500 users. Training sessions in Manta and Guayaquil equipped 25 municipal authorities with tools to incorporate a gender perspective in local policies and address political violence. Additionally, the centennial celebration of women’s suffrage in Ecuador raised awareness about the importance of women's political participation for strengthening democracy, engaging both electoral institutions and civil society organizations. Training processes helped disseminate laws and justice access measures, reflecting an increase in reported political violence cases from 2 in 2020, 3 in 2021, 12 in 2022, 10 in 2023, and 13 cases resolved with a sentence and 12 ongoing cases in 2024, according to the Electoral Dispute Tribunal. UN Women enhanced women’s leadership in communities by establishing the Women Peacebuilders Network in Guayaquil with 105 female leaders, a model replicated in Quito and Milagro to empower women and promote peace. Over 260 women participated in the virtual course "Gender Perspective and Women's Participation in Peacebuilding," with 235 completing it successfully and reporting positive learning outcomes. Humanitarian kits were provided to 339 survivors of gender-based violence in human mobility contexts, and 184 individuals were referred to safe shelters. Technical assistance to Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs culminated in the approval of the first Women, Peace, and Security Plan (2025–2029), aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, with key actions in violence prevention, institutional strengthening, women's leadership in peace processes, and gender-sensitive public policies. The impact of organized crime on women and girls was highlighted through a study that revealed alarming figures of violent deaths and sexual violence cases, emphasizing the need to incorporate gender perspectives in security policies. This data has raised awareness and mobilized authorities to strengthen responses. UN Women supported municipalities such as Quito, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Lago Agrio, and Ibarra in developing plans to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls. In Quito, the first Metropolitan Plan for Violence Prevention and Eradication was formulated, while Cuenca developed a gender-sensitive analysis of the tourism sector, resulting in the "Safe Tourism Guide for Women" as part of its "Safe Tourism" strategy. In Ibarra, a public transportation harassment prevention plan was presented, with protocols planned for 2025. Nationally, five care and shelter spaces were strengthened, benefiting 2,630 individuals, primarily those in human mobility. A validated "Digital Self-Care Guide" was developed to prevent technology-facilitated violence, and the "Proteger a las Caminantes" project produced guides for preventing trafficking. UN Women strengthened institutional and community capacities in gender-based violence prevention in municipalities such as Guayaquil, Milagro, and Daule, focusing on response protocols, training 141 public officials, and implementing an Early Warning System (SART) to identify risks and respond effectively. Agreements with donors like USAID and the Italo-Ecuadorian Fund ensured the continuity of the Spotlight Initiative, while anti-trafficking projects provided specialized training to public officials. These efforts contributed to reducing social tolerance of gender-based violence and strengthening political and social commitments to its eradication, particularly at the local government level, creating improved conditions for the sustainability of initiatives and results achieved in 2024.