Analysis of the Main Precautionary Measures Issued by the IACHR Against Ecuador from 2018 to 202

Abstract

Between 2018 and 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued several precautionary measures against the Ecuadorian State to protect individuals facing serious, urgent, and irreparable risks to their fundamental rights. This article analyzes five emblematic cases: Yaku Pérez Guartambel (2018), Jorge Glas Espinel (2019 and 2025), individuals diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (2022), Mayor Luis Esteban Chonillo Breilh (2023), and journalist and presidential candidate Christian Gustavo Zurita Ron (2023). These cases illustrate recurrent patterns of vulnerability linked to the criminalization of human rights defenders, the prison crisis, the lack of access to essential medicines, political violence, and institutional weakening. The study examines the legal foundations of each measure, the socio-political context that motivated them, and the level of compliance achieved by the State. The findings reveal partial, reactive, and sometimes negligent responses, reflecting structural deficiencies and a clear gap between international commitments assumed by Ecuador and the domestic public policies implemented. This lack of compliance undermines the effectiveness of the Inter-American system and contributes to the persistence of impunity and the lack of protection for vulnerable groups. Ultimately, the article concludes that precautionary measures are not only emergency procedural tools but also essential instruments to highlight the fragility of the human rights protection system in Ecuador. It emphasizes the urgent need to adopt effective protocols, strengthen inter-institutional coordination, and design sustainable policies to ensure an integral response, actively involving the victims. Only through such measures can the Ecuadorian State effectively fulfill its obligations and consolidate the rule of law and human rights protection.