Amnesty International has recently urged Ecuador’s authorities to rescind all legal and financial penalties imposed on activists who were pivotal in initiating the 2023 Yasuní Referendum. This development arises amidst concerns that these sanctions exemplify a broader pattern of suppressing civic space and environmental activism in Ecuador, which has drawn significant global attention.
According to Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, the fines levied against the activists are a direct intimidation tactic against civil society. “Three years ago, millions of people made history by voting to protect Yasuní. Today, those who dedicated years of their lives to securing the park’s protection are facing fines of $18,000. This is clear harassment of civil society,” Piquer said in a statement. The Yasuní Referendum, a landmark initiative, sought to end oil drilling operations in Yasuní National Park, an area renowned for its rich biodiversity and home to uncontacted indigenous tribes, as well as substantial crude oil reserves.
Originating from the Yasuní-ITT Initiative in 2007, the movement aimed to prevent oil extraction in exchange for financial contributions from the international community. Despite the initiative’s collapse and the commencement of drilling in 2016, persistent advocacy from indigenous groups and organizations like YASunidos led to the 2023 referendum. An overwhelming majority voted to cease oil extraction within a year, a decision celebrated globally as a significant advance in the struggle against climate change (JURIST).
Nonetheless, the operations continue unabated, and Ecuador’s election authorities have initiated legal action against YASunidos, pinpointing a 39-cent discrepancy in their financial records. The organization contests the $18,000 fines in Ecuador’s constitutional court, amidst criticism that President Noboa’s administration is systematically undermining civil society. The political climate, as critics indicate, included tactics such as curtailing rights, imposing fines, and disparaging NGOs, leading to heightened scrutiny on the democratic processes within the nation.
Amnesty International is renewing its call for President Noboa to uphold the legal protections for NGOs and adhere to the referendum’s outcomes, which it describes as a litmus test for Ecuador’s democratic values. The plea comes amid broader regional concerns about environmental defenders facing increasing threats and illustrates a critical juncture for civic engagement in Ecuador (Human Rights Watch).