Ecuador marks Day Against Sexual Violence in Schools
This year Ecuador marked its first national day against sexual violence in schools. The State of Ecuador was ordered to commemorate this national day by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights which found that the State was responsible for the abuse and rape of 14-year-old Paola Guzman Albarracin. Paola had been raped and abused by her vice principal and she later took her life in 2002. Many students in schools in Ecuador have been sexually abused and/or raped by teachers, administrative staff, school bus drivers, and other students. Survivors of sexual abuse are often harassed or intimidated not only by their abuser but by their peers. These survivors are also not provided with mental or emotional support.
In 2017 the Minister for Education in Ecuador introduced policies to prevent and end sexual abuse in schools. Part of the policies included mandatory reporting of abuse. Furthermore, in 2018 a database was also launched to register the cases of sexual abuse in schools. Even with these policies in place schools in Ecuador still face challenges in ending sexual violence.
As part of the first national day against sexual violence in schools, government officials have stated that they seek to introduce a national strategy to eradicate sexual violence in schools in 180 days. Ecuador will also seek to implement the other measures ordered by the court such as providing training to teachers on how to prevent sexual violence in schools and how to help victims of sexual violence.