Ecuador National Assembly to debate harsher penalties for minor recruitment

The National Assembly of Ecuador is set to debate a legislative proposal aimed at increasing penalties for the recruitment of minors into criminal activities. Presented by Assemblywoman Valentina Centeno of Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN), the bill proposes reforms to 15 legal bodies, including the Organic Integral Penal Code (COIP).

The initiative seeks to raise the current prison sentence for recruiting children and adolescents from 10–13 years to a range of 22 to 26 years for the most severe cases. The text also aims to expand the legal definition of the crime to include the “use” or “utilization” of minors by criminal organizations.

Beyond criminal sanctions, the proposal includes measures for whistleblower protection, state-provided care for affected youth, and the creation of risk maps by the Ministries of Education, Interior, and Health to identify high-risk educational environments. Local governments would also be tasked with preventing the promotion of criminal activities in public spaces near schools.