Ecuador - Child Abduction

 

ECUADOR 

Ecuador’s performance in implementing the Hague Convention was previously cited as “noncompliant” due to the lack of a functioning Central Authority and lack of progress in resolving cases.  The Government of Ecuador abolished its Central Authority in April 2003 and has still not appointed a new office to function as the Central Authority to fulfill its responsibilities under the Hague Convention, despite several requests from U.S. officials.  The Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs raised this concern in meetings in Quito in September 2004.  The U.S. Embassy in Quito has repeatedly discussed this with the Ecuadorian officials and in Washington, the Office of Children’s Issues has discussed the matter with officials from the Embassy of Ecuador. 

Left-behind parents can still file Hague applications directly with Ecuadorian courts.  Without a functioning Central Authority, however, the Government of Ecuador has not been able to coordinate resources to work with law enforcement to locate missing children, to train judges hearing Hague cases, or to promote consistent, appropriate implementation of the Convention.  Ecuador has appointed a series of offices to serve temporarily as the Central Authority, but these offices have not been given any additional resources that would enable them to carry out their mandates.  The United States has sent two diplomatic notes to the Government of Ecuador with requests that a permanent Central Authority be designated, and asking for updates on our unresolved cases.