Education
One of Raphaël Correa's priorities when he was elected was to reform the system of access to education, enabling everyone to have access to education under the same conditions. He also radically overhauled the educational curriculum in order to, in his own words, improve the general level of education in the country. The government has also sought to promote and preserve indigenous languages and their use, as well as the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples. This policy is part of the Buen Vivir (literally "good living") program. President Moreno, who succeeded Raphaël Correa, aimed to make higher education even more accessible to all young Ecuadorians during his term of office. He partly succeeded, but the Covid-19 pandemic didn't make things any easier for him, depriving Ecuador of school and university education for a full academic year. The task ahead for the newly elected president, Daniel Noboa, remains vast.
Human Rights
Human rights in Ecuador have seen both advances and setbacks over the past decade. Over the past ten years, several forgotten minorities have gained greater visibility, but many innocent citizens have been persecuted by the State. A report on human rights violations over the past two decades was published for the first time in 2019 and same-sex marriage was approved, but there are still memories of human rights violations such as the denial of popular consultation to the people of Yasuni about oil exploitation on their soil in 2019 or the arrests of political opponents such as the one known as the "Luluncoto 10" in 2012. For women, it was a bittersweet decade: feminicide was enshrined in the penal code for the first time in history, the first marches were organized to denounce gender violence, more collectives were created and the feminist struggle was made more visible. However, in 2023, the votes needed to decriminalize abortion for rape have not been obtained, and the number of women giving birth as a result of rape has not fallen.
Poverty
Poverty in Ecuador stabilized at 27% in 2023, after reaching over 32% of the population in 2021 following the COVID19 pandemic, according to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). The document indicates that poverty and extreme poverty have fallen slightly since 2021. The figure of 27% reflects the average situation at national level, although in urban areas it is lower, at 18%, a clear regression, while in rural areas it rises to 46.4%. In June 2023, the poverty line in Ecuador stood at 89 dollars per month per inhabitant, while the extreme poverty line stood at 50 dollars per month per inhabitant. Many Ecuadorians were forced into debt during the pandemic, and are bearing the burden today despite the significant economic recovery.
Retirement
Ecuador is one of the most attractive countries in the world in terms of its pension system. At the very top of the list, well ahead of its South American neighbors. A number of factors combine to make Ecuador an attractive place to live: low cost of living, low property prices, a well-developed healthcare system and a wide range of cultural, sporting and tourist services. Ecuador's healthcare system is the best in South America. This is due to the large number of doctors and physicians who studied in the United States and Europe. Hygiene regulations are above and beyond those found in the rest of the Andean countries. What's more, full medical coverage is provided for patients over the age of 65, covering medical expenses for a monthly fee of between US$60 and US$200. Expatriates are also eligible for this public health system covering medical expenses. It is also important to point out that, in addition to the healthcare system, a series of significant benefits are available to senior citizens from the age of 65. These include discounts (up to -50%) on sporting and cultural events, as well as lower charges and tax refunds. Of course, this system is beginning to attract internationals, because in addition to an attractive pension system, the living environment in Ecuador is relatively attractive: beaches, mountains, volcanoes and the climate make the country a true haven of peace in which to retire. Many foreigners have already settled here. Cuenca in the south is home to almost 8,000 expatriates, while Vilcabamba, further south, has seen its population double in just a few years.
Public Health
Ecuador's public health system dates back to 1967. The Ministry of Public Health is responsible for the system. The main action plan of this health system revolves around community and preventive health. This public health care system enables patients to obtain a consultation (in pediatrics, gynecology, clinic or surgery) in public general hospitals, without having to make an appointment in advance, and to be seen by professionals. The state is fairly well equipped in terms of hospitals. Although many are located in the major cities or provincial capitals, there are basic hospitals (or health centers) everywhere else. Most rural communities in Ecuador have a sizeable indigenous population. Doctors assigned to these communities, also known as rural doctors, are in charge of small clinics to meet the needs of these patients in much the same way as day hospitals in the big cities.
LGBT rights
In Ecuador, homosexuality may have been legalized (since 1997), but the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community remains discriminated against. A gap that is nevertheless closing more and more, as evidenced by the June 2019 validation of same-sex marriage by Ecuador's Constitutional Court. In 2011, a group of activists called Fundación Causana launched a petition on Change.org calling for the closure of over 200 clinics offering cures for homosexuality. Activists denounce acts of torture and violence against patients. Since 2011, a good number of clinics have closed their doors, but a few still exist across the country. In 2015, former president Rafael Correa, who in 2013 openly criticized the country's gender ideology as dangerous, stated that he was open to the recognition of gays and lesbians, as well as bisexuals and transsexuals, promising them the creation of a comprehensive policy including new laws, such as legal recognition of homosexual unions. A major step forward that led the country to grant further rights to these communities. Since the election of Lenín Moreno in 2017, transsexual people have been able to vote in the offices reserved for their gender, regardless of their sex, thanks to the adoption of a law allowing this in 2016. Ecuador is one of the few countries to officially differentiate between the gender and sex of its citizens, for example in electoral registers. This makes Ecuador one of the most advanced countries in this field.
Customs
The country's thirteen indigenous communities have preserved all their varied and ancestral customs; the native populations of Oriente are renowned for their knowledge of traditional medicine. On the other hand, the community of Otavalo (in the Sierra, a 2-hour drive from Quito) is world-renowned for its craftsmanship, one of the most illustrious in Latin America. Over time, the Afro-Ecuadorian population of the Costa has preserved and perpetuated its culture, notably through music and dance. Wherever you go in Ecuador, you'll have the opportunity to see for yourself how traditional customs and habits have endured.
Security
In Ecuador, as in most Latin American countries, the security of citizens and visitors is a key concern for the country's leaders, and Guillermo Lasso, who has just resigned, was no exception to the rule. Indeed, in October 2021, a few months after his election, he decided to declare a state of exception in several provinces, to enable the army to support the police force if necessary. Insecurity indexes, in particular the number of homicides, which rose to 26 per 100,000 in 2022, are in fact in the red and are worrying successive governments. Violent robberies have also risen exponentially. Unfortunately, Ecuador is now one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America. This growing insecurity is due to several factors that need to be taken into account to understand what is at stake for the current administration, civil society and the State itself. The recent violence in prisons (over 400 deaths between October 2021 and 2022) reflects the reorganization of criminal organizations in the country, often in conjunction with drug cartels in neighboring countries, as Ecuador has long been a transit hub.
The current security challenge is one of public order, requiring a broad deployment of educational, industrial, border and judicial policies. The new president, Daniel Noboa, has many challenges to meet.
