State responsibility for the violation of women's human rights: The case of domestic violence in Ecuador

Ecuador as any other state is held accountable by customary international law or the ratification of treaties and covenants. There exist specific obligations under CEDAW and the Convention of Belen Do Para to eliminate violence against women, but despite these obligations, executive, judicial and legislative powers deny these obligations in their decisions. This is a failure to comply with the obligations assumed in international agreements. Ecuador can be held accountable under International Human Rights Law given that most of Ecuadorian women reported to have been assaulted by their husband or partners. These victims disclosed a lack of diligence of the state to prevent and specially punish the perpetrators of domestic violence. Ecuador can be held accountable under CEDAW and Belem Do Para provisions not because of the high rate of domestic violence but for the lack of diligence in implementing measures to eliminate it.