Ecuador has captured international attention with its recent declaration of an “internal armed conflict” in response to a dramatic increase in gang violence. This declaration grants the government emergency powers to theoretically restore peace and social order. Nevertheless, it also entails significant risks for human rights and Indigenous territories.

We are deeply concerned about this situation, particularly due to the risks Indigenous communities and Earth Defenders already face in Ecuador. While the government's initiative aims to combat organized crime and focuses on the coastal zone and Ecuador’s capital, it also poses considerable risks for civil society, Indigenous organizations, and the Amazon.

A society paralyzed by fear may be inclined to accept authoritarian solutions, leading to cruel and inhuman treatment without due process or respect for human rights. Furthermore, the Ecuadorian government might exploit the this situation to justify the expansion of oil and mining. We are already seeing attempts to undermine the historic Yasuní referendum vote to keep one of the country’s largest crude reserves in the ground in the name of the crisis.