Ecuador Struggles to Implement Anti-Corruption Measures, Report Finds

Quito, Ecuador - Despite making progress on some fronts, Ecuador’s efforts to implement anti-corruption measures have been hindered by a lack of coordination and inadequate legislation, according to a new report from Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo (FCD).

Progress Remains Elusive

The report, produced with technical and financial support from the UNCAC Coalition, finds that while Ecuador has made significant progress on developing legal frameworks for preventing corruption, implementation remains poor. The country’s efforts to recover assets stolen through corruption have been particularly ineffective.

Challenges Abound

One of the key challenges facing Ecuador is the lack of coordination between different government institutions and agencies. This has led to a duplication of efforts and a lack of resources being devoted to anti-corruption initiatives.

• Lack of coordination between government institutions and agencies
• Duplication of efforts and limited resources for anti-corruption initiatives

The report also highlights the need for stronger legislation on issues such as:

Need for Strengthened Legislation

• Access to information
• Transparency in public procurement
• Conflict of interest

Ecuador’s laws on these topics are outdated and do not meet international standards.

Asset Recovery Struggles

The report finds that while Ecuador has legal tools for confiscating assets, they are insufficient and limited. In recent years, there have been some advances on this front, such as making confiscation against legal persons viable, but the continuing dependency on the existence of an enforceable conviction is a problem when the investigated or prosecuted person is a fugitive, dies or has immunity.

Recommendations for Priority Actions

The report makes several key recommendations for priority actions to be taken by Ecuador’s government:

• Create a national plan on preventing and fighting corruption
• Improve coordination between different government institutions and agencies
• Develop minimum standards for public codes of conduct
• Regulate conflicts of interest and “revolving doors”
• Extend the obligation to submit sworn asset declarations to candidates running for elected office
• Approve a new Organic Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information

The report also recommends that Ecuador:

International Cooperation and Financial Technologies

Regulate financial technologies, including crypto-currencies and crypto-assets Promote international cooperation in the fight against corruption

Conclusion

Overall, the report concludes that while Ecuador has made some progress on anti-corruption efforts, much remains to be done to ensure that these efforts are effective and sustainable.