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Ecuador National Assembly approves major human trafficking law reform
The National Assembly of Ecuador has unanimously approved a significant reform to the Law against Human Trafficking and Illicit Migrant Smuggling. The new legislation modifies the Organic Integral Penal Code (COIP) to strengthen victim protection and increase penalties for traffickers.
Key changes include the introduction of forced marriage and forced de facto unions as autonomous crimes. The reform also incorporates gleba servitude as a recognized modality of exploitation. For trafficking cases involving minors, the law removes the requirement to prove the use of threats, force, or deception to establish the crime.
Penalties have been significantly increased: basic aggravated trafficking carries 19 to 22 years in prison, rising to 26 to 30 years for serious or irreversible damage, and reaching up to 35 years if the victim dies. To combat the financial aspects of organized crime, the Prosecutor's Office and the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit (UAFE) are now authorized to conduct parallel financial investigations to track and freeze illicit assets.
The reform aims to align Ecuadorian law with international standards and comply with a Constitutional Court ruling regarding the Furukawa case.
Entities
Acción Democrática Nacional · Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador · Constitutional Court of Ecuador · Daniel Noboa · Ecuador · Financial and Economic Analysis Unit · Nathaly Farinango · National Assembly of Ecuador · Organic Integral Penal Code · Prosecutor's Office · Revolución Ciudadana
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The law removes the requirement to prove threats, force, or deception for trafficking cases involving minors. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · www.extra.ec · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 4 SOURCES] Human trafficking penalties can reach up to 35 years in prison if the victim dies. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · www.extra.ec · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 2 SOURCES] The National Assembly approved an objection to a presidential veto regarding the Tax Code reform. www.asambleanacional.gob.ec · www.prensa-latina.cu
- [● 4 SOURCES] The National Assembly of Ecuador approved a reform to the Law against Human Trafficking and Illicit Migrant Smuggling. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · www.extra.ec · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Prosecutor's Office and UAFE can perform parallel financial investigations to track illicit assets. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 4 SOURCES] The reform incorporates gleba servitude as a modality of exploitation. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · www.extra.ec · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Tax Code reform sets a fine of 0.5% of the value of undeclared assets, capped at 2,075 basic unified salaries. www.asambleanacional.gob.ec · www.prensa-latina.cu
- [● 4 SOURCES] Forced marriage and forced de facto unions are now categorized as autonomous crimes in the COIP. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · www.extra.ec · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 4 SOURCES] The reform was approved by a unanimous vote of 144 legislators. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · www.extra.ec · elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 3 SOURCES] The reform aims to comply with the Constitutional Court ruling regarding the Furukawa case. notimercio.ec · www.elcomercio.com · elnuevodiario.com.do