Human Rights Watch says the internal armed conflict in Ecuador has “contributed to serious human rights violations.”

(CNN Spanish) — The declaration of internal armed conflict in Ecuador – made by President Daniel Noboa on January 9 due to a rise in crime – is a baseless decision that endangers human rights and does not solve the problems of violence, according to a report by Humans. The Rights Watch organization released this Wednesday.

“Instead of baselessly declaring the existence of an ‘armed conflict,’ the government should respond to the violence with an effective security policy that protects Ecuadorians and respects human rights,” said Juanita Goeberts, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.

The organization assures that, although violent deaths have decreased, extortion and kidnapping have increased in the country and the declaration of internal armed conflict is not managing to stop these actions. HRW says the mandate to fight the internal armed conflict against the 22 organizations considered terrorist by the government requires an objective analysis of the level of organization of armed groups and the intensity of hostilities generated in certain areas of the country.

HRW concluded, “The Ecuadorian government has not presented sufficient evidence that the clash with any of the 22 criminal groups constitutes a non-international armed conflict.”

On the other hand, HRW says that abuses by public forces against people inside and outside prisons are being recorded. They confirmed that in prisons the military keeps prisoners incommunicado with their lawyers and allegedly mistreats and tortures them.

“The authorities appear to have taken few measures to prevent human rights violations or ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions,” the report said.

CNN requested comment from the Ecuadorian government on this report and is awaiting a response.

Noboa’s recommendations to the government

In a letter to President Noboa, Human Rights Watch made some recommendations for the State to promote more effective and rights-respecting security policies.

It suggests creating special investigation units, increasing the number and capacity of forensic investigators, prosecutors and judges investigating organised crime, increasing financial resources for the protection of justice operators, limiting the role of the armed forces to strictly necessary situations and strengthening the disciplinary mechanisms and accountability of the public force, among others.

Noboa has defended the presence of armed forces inside prisons. Many civilians on the streets told CNN that the military’s stability has managed to prevent prison riots and massacres.

On May 11, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador issued a proclamation declaring the state of emergency decree signed by President Noboa on April 30 for the provinces of Manabí, El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos and Santa Elena as unconstitutional. Hostility and violence in those areas of the country. Said decree is independent of the declaration of internal armed conflict.

The Court’s decision was based on the fact that the President did not properly justify the reason for the decree, nor the territorial scope nor the period of application.

On the other hand, the Court made a call to President Noboa in which it reminded him that the state of exception must be issued responsibly and adequately motivated.

“Every emergency order must present sufficient factual data to justify such extraordinary constitutional mechanism,” the court said.

CNN has sought comment from the Noboa government on the court’s ruling but has not received a response.